Japan Airlines has just released its latest range of amenities and soft products for its domestic and international travellers. The latest designs have been brought to life by Japanese design studio Nendo with a nod to the Tsurumaru crane logo that is synonymous with the carrier. As part of the process, the studio deconstructed the…
Read MoreJAL reveals rebranded 777 Infused Essence cabin by Tangerine, following the recent A350 and 787 cabin designs
It looks like ANA and Japan Airlines are both working hard to improve their passenger experience. While ANA lunched the Room, JAL has also recently launched the upgraded cabin interior of their international Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fleet, extending tangerine’s “Infused Essence” design strategy that was developed for JAL’s newly acquired domestic A350-900(359) aircraft, which launched in…
Read MoreJAL Receives First Airbus, The A350. Designed For Domestic Routes
This week saw JAL receive the first of 8 Airbus A350’s which the airline is bringing online as a workhorse of its domestic operations. The state of the aircraft is actually the first Airbus plane the airline to join the fleet, which was purely Boeing prior to the addition of this wide-body. Although Mitsubishi will…
Read MoreJapan Airlines’ new uniforms are true to form, but leaves us a little underwhelmed
Last week, Japan Airlines announced new designs for the company’s uniformed staff and which will be officially adopted in April 2020 in time for the Japanese Olympics. In early 2019, Japan Airlines reached out to customers and fans requesting comments and opinions on new designs for JAL`s uniformed representatives. Based on the responses, the company…
Read MoreThe need for space. Will airlines invest in social spaces once again?
Even non-aviation enthusiasts may have noticed that the skies look a little different today. As we head into another year since the pandemic first decimated commercial aviation, the large behemoth A380s and Queens of the skies – the Boeing 747 – are a rare sight at airports nowadays. Replaced by more economic and smaller long-haul…
Read MoreWhy so blue? The dominance of the colour in the industry
Aviation is awash with blue. Approximately a decade ago, the skies were filled with blue liveries, interiors lined wall-to-wall with blue seats, carpets, and uniforms in every shade of navy. While design studios have gradually peeled airline brands away from such a strong design vertical, what caused such visual dominance in the industry?
Read MoreTheDesignAir Awards 2019 voting has now closed!
TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2019 and just like last couple of years, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public. The voting is now closed! Now is your chance to pick from our shortlisted categories for Best Design Airline, by region, across the globe. All it takes…
Read MoreZip Air Tokyo launches a … well… confusing product, fulfilling its low cost roots – to some extent
ZIPAIR Tokyo, JAL’s low-cost subsidiary has just announced its new cabins that will feature on the carrier’s 787-8s. While the airline will start flying two Seoul and Bangkok as of May next year, little was known about the product it was going to offer. In comparison in the other fledgling carrier in the region –…
Read MoreStarlux Airlines is certainly drawing some attention, but how will it compete in an already crowded Asian market?
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s latest startup is starting to turn heads. Originally a start-up that – like most – had a questionable future, seems to be full-steam ahead with a recent uniform and A321neo cabin launch. It hasn’t stopped there though, as there have been signature scents and even homeware products that the airline has launched…
Read MoreOpinion: In a battle to regain passenger trust, every inch counts
While no one has successfully modelled the complex commercial outlook of the airline industry over the coming months, some airlines are predicting it will take many years to return to pre-Covid19 levels of revenue, profitability and passenger numbers. When borders reopen there might be a small surge in passenger numbers, but to get to 2019…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Launches 2018 Awards Shortlist
TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2018 and just like last year, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public, so you can vote for the winners you feel are most worthy. Now is your chance to pick from our shortlisted categories for Best Design Airline, by region, across…
Read MoreJAL’s New Configuration 787-9 Is Still The Most Spacious In The Skies
JAL have spent the past few years upgrading their international cabin product.The introduction of the JAL SKY SUITE configured Boeing 777-300ER/-200ER, Boeing 767-300ER, and Boeing 787-8 has “raised the notches one class above in all cabin services.” JAL today announced that the JAL SKY SUITE 787 family will welcome a new cabin configuration for its Boeing 787-9.…
Read MoreBreaking Down Walls, Are Doors In Business Class Really That Important For Passengers?
A few years ago, the race was on to kit out an airline’s entire fleet with fully-flat, all-aisle access seats in business class, as this was a quantifiable benefit from competitors who were offering either angled lie-flat or seats that didn’t feature aisle access. A few key seats became de-facto benchmarks in passenger expectations, including…
Read More2019, The Game Of Thrones
While most people will be getting excited about the final instalment of the globally successful HBO franchise, 2019 will also see a range of new business class seats across the globe that will see the business class experience becoming more and more competitive with regards to the hard product on offer. With seat designers and…
Read MoreJAL Launch New Amenity Kits And Loungewear In Partnership With Porsche Design
Japan Airlines is the latest airline to invest in new amenity kits for their first class passengers. The new kits will feature on all International First Class routes, starting today, March 28, 2017. Porsche Design, the designer label that created the new kit, isn’t new to the airline industry, they’ve already worked with Malaysia Airlines in the…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Launches 2017 Awards Shortlist
TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2017 and just like last year, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public, so you can vote for the winners. Now is your chance to pick from our shortlisted categories for Best Design Airline, by region, across the globe. All it takes…
Read MoreJapan Airlines To Open New Upgraded Lounge In Bangkok
JAL announced yesterday they will be opening a totally renovated Sakura Lounge in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport on March 1st. The new oneworld lounge will join fellow member Cathay Pacific’s designer lounge, opened in June 2015. “With the aim of creating a relaxed and comfortable environment to meet our customer requirements, JAL redesigned and upgraded…
Read More10 Great Flights To Take From London In 2018
Next year will see some exciting developments for passengers travelling to and from London, UK. With new routes, frequencies, upgraded aircraft and enhanced cabin products, London is getting the best of what the skies have to offer. Here is our low-down for the best trips you can take from London in 2018. Mahé, Seychelles Direct…
Read MoreJAL Hint At New Business Class Product In Wave Of Improvements for 2016
JAL today announced a wave of improvements to their fleet and flight frequencies that will reach both domestic and international skies in 2016. The wave of improvements include the addition of premium economy to a host of destinations, expanding their current JAL Sky Suite aircraft and the introduction of a regional business class product to their new…
Read MoreJapan Airlines Reveal New 777-200ER Herringbone Business Class Seats
JAL today announced a new cabin enhancement for their 777-200ER fleet which would ‘raise the bar one class above in all cabin services” according to a press release from the carrier today. The brand new business class dubbed “JAL Sky Suite 777 (SS2)” will launch on the Tokyo Haneda – Bangkok route from July 2016.…
Read MoreJAL Refresh Osaka Lounge
Japanese carrier, JAL opened its newly-renovated Sakura lounge for international flights at Osaka (Kansai) Airport on July 21, 2015. Located near Gate 37, the updated facilities in Kansai Airport match new the design aesthetics found in JAL’s Tokyo Haneda Sakura lounge. The lounge follows the concept of “Modern Japanese Style” and is aiming to impart the message of…
Read MoreJAL’s Duffy The Disney Bear Livery
Written for TheDesignAir by Adam Ralston | Perhaps taking note of EVA Air’s popular and recently expanded Hello Kitty-themed aircraft and service, or from ANA’s recent Star Wars-themed 787-9 announcement, Japan Air Lines have tossed their hat in the fantasy livery ring once again with their domestic Duffy the Disney Bear 737-800 livery. Playing a relatively minor role in…
Read MoreThe Premium Seat Battle In The Middle East
It’s no surprise that Emirates has finally announced that it is set to unveil its new Business Class seat for its Boeing new 777 aircraft at ITB Berlin, the international travel trade show which takes place in just a couple of days time. After just launching the world’s longest route on a 777 from Dubai to Auckland,…
Read MoreA Closer Look At JAL’s Super Spacious 787-9
JAL certainly have embraced space in a big way when it comes to their 787-9, an aircraft designed to take up to 420 passengers. Instead the Japanese carrier has opted for just 195 seats onboard their aircraft, offering literally twice the amount of space per passenger. Naturally it doesn’t actually get shared out like that,…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Top 10 Business Classes 2015
It has been a busy year for Business Class, with a staggering array of new products being launched as carriers fight for their most lucrative passenger base. Our list contains some surprises, with familiar names falling off and lesser-known carriers appearing. Generally speaking, the products scored lower this year, possibly because consumers’ expectations are rising. The judges looked, as always, at hard and soft product first— but the very highest…
Read MoreJAL’s Upgraded First Class Lounge ‘Bowls’ Us Over
Back in March we announced a new wave of lounges at Haneda Airport for Japan Airlines. The airline has just announced and opened its brand new addition to its first class wing, which is the height of modernity and luxury. The crowning glory called ‘RED Suite’ is the new adult hideaway for JAL, which is basically somewhere for…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Top 10 Premium Economy Classes 2015
This month we cover 2015’s Top 10 Premium Economy Classes. Investing more into their new mid-cabin classes, airlines are fighting to offer passengers extra elements to lift the experience—on the ground and in the air. With Singapore Airlines entering the fray this year, the list is open to change as we continue to review the world’s very best Premium Economy Classes.…
Read MoreJAL Do It Again And Buck The Trend With Their 787
Just when we thought we were going to give up on hoping for a less cramped 787 economy cabin, JAL come along and show us that passengers should be treated to extra space, in every cabin. ANA did offer a 2 x 4 x 2 seating configuration in their 787s but that has been phased…
Read MoreJAL Sky Next Showcases How Domestic Travel Should Be For The Rest Of Us
Originally launched on the Haneda – Fukuoka route back in May, JAL have revamped their domestic cabins on their 777s to offer luxurious comfort to its guests. Since then the ball has started rolling to retrofit 77 aircraft, as the new cabin, dubbed ‘Sky Next’ finds its way to new destinations on the JAL network. Recently,…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Top 10 Economy Classes 2015
We are pleased to announce our Top 10 economy classes for 2015. The last 18 months have changed the landscape for economy class travel, with passengers around the world benefiting from new aircraft, new products and increased inflight entertainment options. While there are some new entrants into our list this year, the competition was tougher than ever, due to an increasingly…
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