Cathay Pacific has unveiled it’s latest lounge in Vancouver International Airport. Opened two days ago, the lounge is located in the International Terminal, between departure gates D66 and D67. This is the latest in a line of new lounges for the carrier, following the iconic design template which has already been rolled out in Cathay Pacific lounges in Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei and Haneda Airport.
The new lounge measures 510 square metres, with a seating capacity of 108 people offering a supremely comfortable exclusive environment of understated luxury in which passengers can relax before their one of two daily flights out of Vancouver to Hong Kong or daily departure to New York.
Designed by Studioilse, the London-based design firm led by Ilse Crawford, the new lounge features the same warm, natural materials that can be found in the other signature lounges for Cathay. Warm wood veneers and sturdy stone structures line the walls, which are softened both acoustically and visually by the use of residential-style lighting, to create an environment that helps passengers feel relaxed by engaging the senses and focusing on ‘wellbeing’ as a core principle.
“We aim to offer the very best traveller experience when flying Cathay Pacific and we believe this spectacular new lounge is a reflection of how important this market is to the airline,” says Nick Hays, Cathay Pacific’s Vice President Canada. “We hope our guests will enjoy taking in the iconic views of Vancouver’s coastal mountains as they say farewell to the city and use this space as a tranquil haven that sets the mood for their outbound flights to New York, Hong Kong, China or beyond to our global network.”
There are all the visual and layout hallmarks of the previous lounges, meaning brand consistency is at the very heart of Cathay’s ground operations. Cherry wood walls and a limestone floor are framed with details such as glazed screens and green ceramic tiles in The Noodle Bar, bronze and brass highlights in the main entrance and bar area. An abundance of plants adds colour to the space and specially sourced artwork reflects the local culture of B.C. – giving the feel of a comfortable domestic space rather than a standard airline lounge.
Natural sunlight filters through the windows; bespoke chairs and side tables with in-built lamps and sockets are placed by the glass so passengers can enjoy views of the airport runway and mountains beyond. Business travellers can take advantage of complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the lounge and three individual workstations with iMacs and printers in The Bureau.
Dining is a focal part of the Cathay Pacific lounge experience and Vancouver’s lounge features the signature Noodle Bar, which offers a selection of soup including wonton noodle soup, dan dan noodle soup and authentic Hong Kong- style fish ball noodle soup. Another dining highlight is The Pantry, where passengers can enjoy cold cuts, a selection of cheese, salads, western hot food, fruits, desserts and tapas.
The new lounge in Vancouver is designed to reflect the Cathay Pacific brand experience and to offer passengers both relaxation and enjoyment, whether they are returning home to Hong Kong or travelling beyond to China or Greater Asia.
The lounge is open to First and Business Class passengers travelling on Cathay Pacific and members of the Marco Polo Club with Silver Card status or above and members of all tiers who earn lounge passes and/or their friends and family, including oneworld members with Sapphire status or above. The Cathay Pacific Lounge is open daily from 10.30 am to 3.00 pm and 8.00 pm to 2.00 am, but adjusted seasonally according to the Cathay Pacific flight schedule.
This is just one of a few lounges to be rolled out in the upcoming months, with both Hong Kong’s home airport becoming host a recently renovated Pier Business Class lounge (opening in a few weeks) and the new London Heathrow lounge opening before the summer season in just a matter of weeks.
Cathay are working hard at creating brand pillars that are to become iconic to the carrier, with a visual aesthetic that is hard to reproduce. Every new lounge that opens is another step in the right direction for an airline that doesn’t just think about the flight as part of a customers journey.
TheDesignAir 
Its smaller than I thought…but seeing the terminal in the background, I know that this area is actually a great space for a lounge. Just hope that its not overly crowded at key times. The NY flight is late night so this is a good place to get ready for an overnight flight.
Does anybody know if the lounges in Shanghai or Beijing (as two of the most important CX destinations in terms of frequencies and passengers) will receive new lounges anytime soon? Thanks in advance.
Is there any information out yet which lounges will see a renovation after London and Hongkong? Keeping my fingers crossed for Shanghai…