While Cathay Pacific’s latest ethos might have shifted from ‘Life well travelled’ to ‘Move beyond’ it seems that the physical manifestation of the brand hasn’t taken a different tack just yet. The latest offering from the carrier will open tomorrow in Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport. The re-opening of their existing space in the new airline design palette marks the introduction of the airline’s awards-winning lounge design to mainland China for the first time.
Located near Departure Gate D69 in Pudong Airport’s Terminal 2 building, the new lounge is a home-away-from-home for regular Cathay Pacific travellers with all the iconic residential design touches found in the myriad of global lounges developed by Studioilse, the London-based studio led by Ilse Crawford.
Spanning 970 square metres, the lounge uses the phrase ‘Oasis’ to describe its personality. The space features the trademark natural materials such as cherry wood and limestone, while the medley of different leather and Alcantara-upholstered designer furniture is set up to allow guests to “socialise in open areas or wind down more privately in peace and solitude,” according to the press release.
While many of the Studioisle designed lounges for Cathay are enclosed, a particular highlight of this lounge is the Terrace, an L-shaped, open-ceiling verandah that allows guests to take in panoramic views of the apron and runway.
The design of the Terrace is similarly reflected in the open-ceiling food hall, where passengers wanting a pre-flight refreshment can enjoy the convenience of self-serve international hot and cold dishes, freshly baked treats, cheeses and cold cuts that can be picked up from the Servery counter. A variety of wines and spirits are also available at the self-service bar, giving guests the ability to mix their favourite pre-flight cocktails.
Of course, no Cathay lounge would be complete without its synonymous Noodle Bar, and this signature feature is now making its debut in mainland China. Channelling Hong Kong’s beloved tea houses, the open-kitchen Noodle Bar offers a combination of communal long tables and private booths set within a stylish dining area complete with hanging lights and dark-wood ceiling fans.
Here visitors to the lounge can get a comforting taste of Hong Kong by ordering freshly prepared wonton egg noodles with soup – a Cantonese classic – or perk up before their flight with a spicy Sichuan province special in the form of dan dan noodles. Of course, guests can also enjoy some of Shanghai’s own delectable culinary culture with hand-made, soup-filled xiao long bao dumplings among the dim sum dishes served daily.
While the lounge doesn’t feature showers, it’s only really catering to fairly short-haul hops, and therefore those requiring a quick shower can do so while transiting Hong Kong, should they be taking a connecting flight. The lounge however does cater to 305 passengers, features lockers, fast WiFi and is open between 05:30am to 09:00pm daily.
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