You wouldn’t be blamed if you’d not heard of this design and detail driven aviation outfit. Founded in 2014, BLADE has since grown into the largest coordinator of short-distance aviation in the Northeast. Flyers can book helicopter and fixed wing flights through their app in mere seconds.
The company was originally an East Coast company, focussing on passengers depending on connections from Manhattan to the Hamptons and Nantucket. They then turned to BLADE Bounce airport transfers, a BLADEone jet service to Miami, seaplane flights, and charters. The company has recently expanded from the Northeast and now operates in both sunny LA and Southern Florida.
With the expansion comes an expansion of lounges, and the company offers lounges throughout Manhattan and its further reaching destinations. The largest lounge is BLADE’s flagship Lounge East. Inspired by Mary Wells’ Braniff Airlines, BLADE Lounge East was entirely redesigned and expanded for Summer 2017. The renovated lounge, designed in-house by Jaclyn Vernet and Jake Wildstein, is brighter and larger than the original lounge that once stood in its place. In a nod to the JetSet era, Vernet and Wildstein custom-fit the Lounge with modern mid-century pieces.
Near the entrance hangs a digital art installation built using the sidewalls of a decommissioned 737. Within the plane’s window panes are fun looping video profiles of passengers drinking scotch, smoking cigars, and taking photos with a vintage camera, reminiscent of aviation experiences from the 1960’s.
A custom light fixture created by Luke Lamp Co illuminates the seating area overlooking the helipad. Another great fun feature of the new space is a vintage Atari Asteroids video game coffee table that sits in the far corner of the lounge.
The private lounges are staffed by the BLADE C/X (“Customer Experience”) team, who check in fliers and serve complimentary drinks and snacks. BLADE has a full premium bar featuring VieVité rosé, Zirkova vodka, and Casa Dragones tequila, all of which are served gratis in the company’s signature wine glass-shaped sippy cups that fliers can bring onto their flights.
The lounge also provides organic, fair-trade chocolate snacks and a range of healthy all natural fruit and veggie products.
Continuing in their roles as the official designers of the BLADE C/X (“Customer Experience”) Team, Cynthia Rowley and Sarah Jessica Parker have created new summer outfits that couple the glamour of 1960’s flight attendants with the highly regarded aesthetic of Steve McQueen’s 1971 film, Le Mans. The sleek, black jumpsuits give the C/X team an air of elegance and efficacy.
Maybe it’s time to take a quick spin up to the Hamptons!
TheDesignAir 