Yesterday saw the launch of Oman Air’s latest cabin crew uniform, which brings the airline’s brand image even closer to perfection. As part of the Oman Air brand evolution which saw the first major product enhancement through the introduction of its new First Class cabin last year on its newly delivered Boeing 787-9 with interiors by…
Read MoreOman Air’s Latest First And Business Class Lounges Match Impressive 787 Interiors
The opening of Muscat’s new airport terminal has given Oman Air the chance to completely reimagine its ground product. The new passenger terminal building has already won awards, and by the look of the lounge, it might be winning some awards of its own. The interiors of the lounges are just simply stunning. The design has…
Read MoreOman Air Introduces New Flagship First Class Suite For 787-9
Ahead of the airline’s new lounge opening, Oman Air has revealed the designs for its new 787-9 interiors, which include a new fully private First Class Suite design for its most prestigious passengers. Instead of the airline’s current Business and economy layout for their 787-9’s these new suites will occupy part of the front section…
Read MoreOman Air First Airline To Receive ‘Air Rest’ Business Class Seats
Rockwell Collins used AIX as an opportunity to launch its brand new narrow body business class seat type dubbed ‘Air Rest.’ The seat is actually already flying, and can be found exclusively on Oman Air’s 737 MAX aircraft. Initial deliveries for a total of 30 aircraft recently began and will continue through 2022. This seat, which…
Read MoreTrip Report: OmanAir B787-9 Business Class March 2019
Flight: WY103 Aircraft Type: 787-9 Class: Business Class Route: MCT-LHR Date: March 2019 http://www.omanair.com After our outbound trip in Oman Air’s outstanding First Class product, it was time to return home and give the equally impressive Business Class a run for its money. While the Apex Suite is a seasoned favourite for many travellers, it is interesting to see how this…
Read MoreTrip Report: OmanAir B787-9 First Class March 2019
Flight: WY102 Aircraft Type: 787-9 Class: First Class Route: LHR-MCT Date: March 2019 http://www.omanair.com Oman Air has long been on our radar to offer a trip report. Its careful positioning as a boutique carrier based in the Middle East doesn’t mean it is one of the big and bold ME3, but it is certainly pushing the envelope when it comes…
Read MoreGulf Air shows off new A321LR cabins with flatbeds in Business Class
Over the past few years Gulf Air has managed to really shake off its tired products of the past and reposition itself as a boutique carrier that gives the ME3 a run for their money. The 787 product is certainly stunning, and we thought that in many ways, thanks to their smaller more intimate cabins,…
Read MoreDon’t put your feet up. Why airlines still have to invest in design, especially now
Unless you’ve had your head under a rock, you might have noticed that airlines are struggling to survive right now. Their entire model is based on free movement between destinations, a right that has since been rescinded by the global governments who are trying to get a grip on the pandemic. As such, airlines are…
Read MoreAirline cabins and hotels that are giving us wanderlust right now
While the team are doing their bit to help fight this pandemic and staying indoors, it’s also making us a little stir crazy as our wings have been clipped, at least for the coming weeks or months. Like many others out there, we’ve been finding ourselves going through our archives, going online and longing for…
Read MoreTheDesignAir round-up: 10 things we’ve loved in 2019
2019 has seen yet another year of great innovation, new products, new airlines, new lounges and new airport facilities across the globe. It just goes to show how quickly the industry continues to evolve and respond to the ever-increasing needs of an airline passenger. Just before this year, or even this decade, comes to a…
Read MoreAnnouncing the winners of TheDesignAir awards 2019
TheDesignAir is thrilled to announce the 2019 award winners as voted for by our esteemed judging panel and our readers. Year after year, we see more improvements and enhancements across the passenger experience, from narrow to wide bodies to lounges and airports around the globe. We showcase the 2019 winners here.
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 MoreHot Hotel: Kempinski Muscat, Oman
Now celebrating it’s one year Anniversary, the Kempinski Hotel in Muscat is one of the hottest opening’s in Oman’s capital city, Muscat. Situated in the prestigious Al Mouj district, just a short drive from the airport, it’s slightly away from the central Muscat area but benefits from a quiet beach, nearby marina and majestic views…
Read MoreIn This Current Climate, Is There A Need For Leading Business Class Airlines?
No matter how we look at it, the aviation business class landscape is changing, and is potentially as fragmented as ever. The race to the bottom is evident, even in currently touted ‘5-star airlines’ who seek profitability. Whether a desire to chase the most effective cabin configuration (LOPA), decision to reduce amenities to the bare…
Read MoreBattle Of The Emerging ‘Boutique Airlines’
It’s a phrase that some airlines build their business model and service proposition on, but the ‘Boutique’ airline is a seemingly new airline type that will no doubt turn our heads a little more often than legacy carriers, but why is that? While La Compagnie has already built the strap-line ‘Boutique Airline’ into their marketing,…
Read MoreAnnouncing TheDesignAir Awards 2018 Winners
TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the 2018 Award winners as voted for by our esteemed judging panel and our readers. This year has seen a wave of improvements around the world in the field of passenger experience. From impressive new business class cabins to swathes of new airline lounges, no stone has been left unturned…
Read MoreTrip Report: Gulf Air B787-9 Business Class October 2018
Flight: GF2 Aircraft Type: 787-9 Class: Business Class (Flacon Gold) Route: LHR-BAH Date: October 2018 http://www.gulfair.com Gulf Air used to be one of the leading carriers in the Gulf region, however, bold upstarts like Emirates quickly stole the crown, with heavy investment in new aircraft and a fairly courageous growth plan, leaving Gulf Air with a lacklustre, dated product that…
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 MoreTheDesignAir Exclusive Tour Of Singapore Airlines A380
While all eyes are currently on Singapore Airlines’ A350 ULR service between Newark and Singapore, currently the world’s longest flight at over 18 hours, we take an exclusive behind the scenes look at one of the airlines’ latest A380s while it’s on the ground in Heathrow. You can see our other article on the aircraft…
Read MoreTrip Report: Turkish Airlines B777-300ER Business Class May 2018
Flight: TK15 Aircraft Type: 777-300ER Class: Business Class Route: IST-GRU Date: May 2018 http://www.turkishairlines.com Turkish Airlines impressed TheDesignAir last year with a trip on the same route. With the impending opening of the New Istanbul Airport this year, along with new transit services such as the Bosphorus Experience the airline is continuing to evolve and improve, but we wanted to see…
Read More10 Under 10. The Ten Small Airlines That You Really Should Get To Know In 2018
While many airlines in the world vie to be the biggest, there are a few smaller airlines that are certainly fighting to be the best. We take a look at 10 airlines under 10 million passengers per annum that are doing something special in 2018 that – we think – might just be worth getting…
Read MoreGulf Air Reveals New Cabin Class Products And Livery
Gulf Air, once the cream of the crop in the Middle East, sadly started to slip against the backdrop of the now globally-famous ‘ME Three’. Ageing hard products and a limited route network meant the carrier was very rarely the top of passengers preferences. However, things might be about to change. Gone the heavy golden…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Exclusive Interview With SriLankan’s Saminda Perera
SriLankan Airlines might be not on everyone’s radar, but there is good reason why it should. It could even be the one secret airline that you might of heard of that you really should try. With incredibly competitive prices, connections as quick as 45 minutes and a world-class inflight product, this oneworld carrier is certainly…
Read MoreQantas Reveals Beautiful New Indigenous Aircraft Livery For Its Dreamliner
Yesterday Qantas revealed a striking new special livery for a brand new 787-9 Dreamliner being delivered to the airline. Comprised of approximately 5,000 dots (get counting!), the new design is striking both from near and afar. The new livery features the work of the late Northern Territory artist and senior Anmatyerre woman, Emily Kame Kngwarreye.…
Read MoreTurkish Airlines Introduces Bosphorus Experience For Transiting Business Class Passengers
Turkish Airlines has introduced another program for its business class passengers, inviting transiting travellers to get to experience the very best of Istanbul. The Istanbul Bosphorus Experience is a new purchasable program, specially for its Business Class passengers who have a transfer time of seven or more hours in Istanbul. “We always strive to offer…
Read MoreTrip Report: Turkish Airlines 777-300ER Business Class April 2017
Flight: TK15 Aircraft Type: 777-300ER Class: Business Class Route: IST-GRU Date: April 2017 http://www.turkishairlines.com Turkish Airlines has certainly caught our attention recently. In our first report on the airline’s short-haul product, they impressed us with a region-beating business class product. As part of our three part series we were happy to explore their signature long haul product, which stars in their latest…
Read MoreQatar Airways New Business Class Offers Innovation For Passengers, But Is It Revolutionary?
At ITB Yesterday, Qatar Airways proudly launched its much anticipated new Business Class product. It has certainly impressed the public with its claims to have the world’s first double bed in business class, new sharing plate concept, sliding doors for privacy and large communal area for families of four. Don’t get us wrong, we are…
Read MoreTurkish Airlines Superman Vs Batman Livery Is The Tip Of A Branding Iceberg
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the new Superman Vs. Batman movie currently out at the cinemas. The latest in the superhero movie franchise starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill as the two crimefighting men in capes. Also, the main partner of the movie is Turkish Airlines who cleverly…
Read MoreHawaiian Airlines Deliver An Exceptional Premium Cabin
Watch out Fiji Airways, there is a new boutique airline vying for the attention of the Pacific. Hawaiian Airlines today revealed their plans to install a brand new lie-flat first class (or International business class) product that matches international business class standards. We are thrilled, as finally Hawaiian have concreted their position as the true owner of…
Read MoreBritish Airways New 787-9 First Class Cabin Is A Step In The Right Direction
The Abu Dhabi – London route has pretty much been ruled by Etihad since their introduction of their award-winning A380. However, British Airways are fighting back, with the announcement of their new 787-9 First Class product that will soon be flying the city pairs (and on to Muscat) Whilst the cabin still is nothing really compared…
Read More