Anyone who has visited South America will appreciate how strong the design culture is there. So it’s no surprise that the de-facto airline of the region LATAM has celebrated its cultural roots with two new amenity kits, which have sustainability at their heart. This new release reflects one of the emerging trends TheDesignAir predicted for…
Read MoreLATAM’s new South American narrow body ‘Premium Economy’ is everyone else’s Business Class, and we love them for it…
If you’ve ever travelled within Europe (excluding on Turkish Airlines) you’ve probably flown what is dubbed Euro Business. It’s a fairly simple concept of the first few rows of an otherwise fairly normal narrow-body jet becoming the carrier’s Business Class, which comes with all the bells and whistles of a Business Class ticket, including priority…
Read MoreLATAM receives first 787-9 with new inflight hard product
LATAM’s 25th Boeing 787 took off for the first time from Santiago International Airport yesterday as flight LA750 to São Paulo, Brazil. The group received the new aircraft last week at Boeing’s Delivery Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Not only is this the 25th 787-9, but this is the first Boeing 787 to feature LATAM’s…
Read MoreQantas offers gift packages for purchase to help boost morale in Australia
Qantas has just released a gift packages that can be sent directly to the doors of people doing it tough in lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis. In something we predicted airlines would start to do in our Covid White Paper, the carrier is turning some of its excess stock of pyjamas, amenity kits and snacks in…
Read More5 great upgraded Business Class cabins already flying in 2019
2019 has already seen a wealth of new product launches and new aircraft deliveries. This means that passengers are starting to experience the latest wave in business class seats and cabins across the globe. While there are many more exciting products on the horizon from Emirates‘ Premium Economy product through to Lufthansa’s new 777 business…
Read MoreLATAM launches new business class dining and celebrates first 777 with new cabin products
This week saw LATAM unveil the final phases of its upgraded ‘Premium Business’ service by showcasing to press the first Boeing 777 in its fleet to feature the group’s new cabin product. The new business class service and hard product is part of a $500 million investment to improve the passenger experience and includes US$400…
Read MoreTrip Report: LATAM B777-300ER Business Class January 2019
Flight: LA8084 Aircraft Type: 777-300ER Class: Business Class Route: GRU-LHR Date: January 2019 http://www.latam.com LATAM‘s 777 has long been on our radar to experience. While we had experienced the 787-8 operated by LAN back in 2015, the 777 offered a very different experience, with a traditional 2 x 3 x 2 configuration in business class with the ‘dreaded’ middle seat. While…
Read MoreLATAM And Priestmangoode Showcase New Interiors
Priestmangoode today announced a new cabin design for LATAM’s fleet of aircraft. Following the design company’s short haul aircraft interiors, PriestmanGoode has worked with LATAM to design new cabin interiors for the South American carrier as part of its vision to offer passengers “a travel experience with more options, flexibility and personalisation.” The new cabin interiors…
Read MoreLATAM Impresses With New Cabin Interiors As Part Of US$400m Investment
LATAM Airlines Group today unveiled its plan to transform the cabins and travel experience of no less than two-thirds of its global fleet with a US$400 million investment. The company will revamp the interior of more than 200 aircraft over the next two years with passengers being able to fly the first renovated aircraft relatively…
Read MoreLATAM Introduces New Economy Meals To Entice International Flyers
LATAM Airlines unveiled a fantastic and innovative new dining concept for the Economy cabin of its long-haul international flights (longer than seven hours), which is now available onboard flights to/from Chile and will be introduced throughout the airline group’s international network before the end of 2017. LATAM has defied convention and replaced the traditional tray…
Read MoreTAM’s 767 Disney Livery Could Be TAM’s Last Special Livery
Launched last month, TAM’s latest special livery celebrates Walt Disney World and is a kid’s dream. The 767-300, which has been flying to Orlando, may however be the last special livery for TAM, with the new LATAM livery scheduled to come into service in the next few months. However this livery is the first aircraft in…
Read MoreLATAM Reveals First A320 Neo & A350 In New Colours
The aircraft that the new LATAM livery was truly “designed for” has been revealed in Toulouse yesterday. LATAM Airlines Group received its fourth Airbus A350 XWB but it is the first to bear the LATAM Airlines livery, alongside its smaller sibling the brand new A320 Neo. In December 2015, LATAM Airlines Group became the first airline…
Read MoreLATAM Finally Reveal New Livery And Brand Ethos. But Do We Love It?
Today was the big reveal for LATAM, where new livery, full brand realisation, uniforms, airport signage and counter design were finally revealed to the public as well as a consolidated website (www.latam.com). Everything has been perfectly timed to coincide in May, with liveries, website and even new branded magazine for the combined carriers called Vamos all launching…
Read MoreEnd Of The Plain Plane? Has The ‘Eurowhite’ Livery Hit Critical Mass?
As Air Canada’s revealed its new livery reveal, we raise the question, has the continuing trend of ‘Eurowhite’ liveries started to draw to a close? It was actually back in 1965 that Braniff International launched their ‘End of the plain plane’ advertising campaign – pointing out that their brightly coloured aircraft and Pucci uniforms were a unique selling…
Read MoreInterbrand Launch Bold New Look For LATAM
So it’s probably not news to most, that LAN and TAM have been undergoing a merger process for the last three years, and most have already been naming the LAN and TAM group with the moniker LATAM in the interim whilst they investigate a new brand. However, today it was announced in São Paulo that the two…
Read MoreThe Aviator Episode Four
It’s time for next instalment of The Aviator: The podcast about all things flying. Hosted by Ted Kravitz and regular guest host Jonny Clark. This month we we unpick the findings of the Airports Commission, Mark Vanhoenacker takes us through his book Skyfaring – a journey with a pilot, plus, the month’s news on the airways –…
Read MoreCreating Cathay’s New Brand. An Exclusive Inside Look At Cathay Dragon
Part one of TheDesignAir’s exclusive series on the making of Cathay Dragon. The newly renamed Cathay Dragon has just started its life as an airline brand. Originally named ‘Dragonair’, the Cathay sibling has very clearly positioned itself alongside the internationally recognised Cathay Pacific. On first glance, the rebrand may just look like a red Cathay…
Read MoreLATAM Hint At What’s Happening In The Near Future
Many people may have heard about LATAM‘s merger over the past few years, and we are just on the cusp of a new combined brand being rolled out throughout South America. Being one of the largest airline groups in the world, chances are, if you are headed to a South American country anytime soon, the new merger will…
Read MoreTAM Accidentally Hint At Their New 777 Business Class Cabin
As spotted by one of our avid followers with a keen eye (thank you), TAM have revealed their 777 business class cabin refresh (above), something they announced they were going to do late last year. On their website there is an image of an improved 777 business class cabin, with an interior that matches their 787…
Read MoreTrip Report: LAN 787-8 Business Class April 2015
Flight: LA705 Aircraft Type: B787-8 Class: ‘Premium’ Business Class Route: MAD-SCL Flight time: 13:21 Seat: 4D Date: April 2015 http://www.lan.com Best for: Couples due to the seat config or smarter travellers wanting a better experience compared to the Iberia codeshare flying the same route. The crowd: A full cabin, mainly Chilean, and either wealthy travellers or business travellers. Business or pleasure: This route, considering it connects on…
Read MoreLAN To Roll Out New 787-9 Routes. We’re Excited
Joining the fleet only last month, LAN brought out their latest weapon in attacking the international market, their much improved Dreamliner, the 787-9. Operating from their base in Santiago Chile, LAN’s 787-9 will start flying to Lima, Peru (with continuing service to Los Angeles), New York, Easter Island, Madrid, Frankfurt, Auckland and Sydney. The 787-9 is perfect for LAN’s premium…
Read MoreLATAM Pack A Punch With New Sao Paulo Lounge
LAN and TAM announced today the opening of their impressive and striking new VIP lounge, at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport. The new lounge is the largest in Latin America, spanning over a fairly massive 1,800 square metres. We love the wallpaper-esque style injected into the space, really showcasing the very best in South America architecture and design. Located on…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Top 10 Best Aviation Product Releases For 2015
2015 has been an impressive year for the aviation industry, with many carriers pulling up their socks and vying for the all-elusive lucrative passenger. With oil-prices lower than before, airlines are snapping at the opportunity to revisit their products, launch new aircraft and impress their paying consumers. This means one thing, a better experience for…
Read MoreLAN and TAM Open New Preferential Check-in At Santiago International Airport
LAN and TAM have a current strategic plan to renew their premium spaces and provide a better travel experience for passengers. At the end of May, LAN and TAM inaugurated their new Preferential Check-in zone, located on the fourth floor on the west side of the International Airport in Santiago, Chile. The whole area features…
Read MoreSantiago Just Got On The Map. Because of LATAM’s New Lounge
We were lucky enough to get invited to LATAM’s inauguration of their brand new Santiago Lounge today. The largest lounge in South America (and the largest so far for LATAM) hasn’t failed to deliver on its promise with over 23,000sq feet of luxurious passenger comfort on offer. LATAM have left the best till last, with the…
Read MoreLAN & TAM Delight With New Aligned Interior Products
LATAM have just exclusively announced a brand new look for their short haul and long haul cabins, being rolled out on their Airbus A320 family aircraft and new 787-9 and A350 fleet. This is the first real sign of unification between the two airlines, who have been working together since 2012. Conceived by Priestmangoode, the new domestic…
Read MoreHoly Smokes! LAN & TAM Announce Opening of Five VIP Lounges
Since LAN & TAM have combined forces, they have really invested into creating a ‘Best Of Latin America’ offering for their travellers. The latest investment is in the shape of five VIP lounges for their premium passengers. The first of which is the El Dorado lounge in Bogota, with the following 4 being launched between…
Read MoreAn Interview With Olivia Putman, Designer Of The New LAN/TAM Lounges
We recently covered the launch of the new LAN/TAM Lounges that have shown South America is an International destination to be reckoned with. Designed by Studio Putman, the lounges are going to be a super-chic haven for global travellers for years to come. We talk exclusively to the creator of the space, (daughter of the…
Read MoreHawaiian Airlines Celebrates 85 Years
Our good friends, Hawaiian Airlines celebrated 85 years of continuous passenger service today from Hawaii. And within those 85 years, have celebrated the very best in Hawaiian hospitality and design. Hawai’i’s first interisland passenger service was launched on Nov. 11, 1929 as Inter-Island Airways, with a flight from Honolulu to Hilo, which took a total of one hour and 40…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Top 10 International First Classes Of 2013
With our return to our monthly Top 10’s, this month we celebrate the launch of several new First Class cabins around the world. Have they made our Top 10 though? Interestingly, as our judges went through the offerings, it became apparent that ‘International First Class’ cabins have changed over the past few years, turning from…
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