Unlike other media-outlets focussing on the airline industry we make a point to never really comment on short-lived, political or click-bait style news. We focus our approach on the long-lasting customer experience advancements, but Hong Kong has created a unique global environment over the past couple of years, built on political unrest and now the…
Read MoreThe flagship lounge for Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong International Airport is certainly worth a look if you are ever in Hong Kong. Situated near gate 61 at the far end of the airport, it might not be the first choice for most, however, its relative isolation means its a quiet haven for business class…
Read MoreJune saw the announcement of a brand new pier at Zurich’s International Airport. After over 35 years in operation, Dock A has now reached the end of its life cycle and has to be replaced. In its place, will sit a brand new and stunning construction, brought to life by the teams at BIG, HOK…
Read MoreSydney’s International Terminal has just welcomed a brand new pay-for lounge for departing passengers. The new Plaza Premium Lounge, situated opposite Gate 25 of Pier B is the brand’s third addition in Australia joining locations in Melbourne and Brisbane. It’s the latest of a wave of lounges being opened by the brand, which now boasts over…
Read MoreCathay Pacific opened its doors today to the first official visitors of their latest, and largest, lounge in Hong Kong; The New Business Class Lounge at The Pier. The Pier, which plays home to Cathay Pacific’s most recently refurbished First and Business Class lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, has been offering unparalleled levels of comfort and…
Read MoreLast week KLM officially opened its completely renovated non-Schengen Crown Lounge at Schiphol Airport. The lounge far outperforms the pervious incarnation, and celebrates new food and beverage concepts including it’s pay-for Blue restaurant. KLM’s non-Schengen Crown Lounge (the official name) is located between the E and F piers at Schiphol. The “KLM House” is identifiable…
Read MoreLong-haul Cathay passengers transiting through Hong Kong Airport may find the airline’s latest addition to their Pier Lounge a welcome haven to stretch and relax during their journey. Designed in partnership with The Pure Group, The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga is a 700 square-foot area divided into two zones – The Body Sanctuary, which is…
Read MoreJust shy of KLM’s centenary, the airline has opened the first stage of its brand new lounge in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. The lounge now boasts a completely new setup, set over tiered layers, with a brand new ‘trendy’ ambience. The lounge features the latest technologies and innovations along with improved service and catering. While this…
Read MoreWhile Air Italy has started its long-haul routes to Miami and New York, Alitalia is working hard to keep its top flyers loyal to the airline at a time when it needs the most support. Today, Alitalia inaugurated the new Casa Alitalia lounge at Rome Fiumicino’s Pier E, the new boarding area for most of Alitalia’s medium…
Read MoreSchiphol Airport has recently released the artists impressions for their new Pier A which will be open end of 2019. Eventually supported by the new terminal at Schiphol (opening in 2023) the airport will expand its capacity and the pair of architectural projects will enhance the airport and continue to position the airport as a…
Read MoreCathay Pacific have finally previewed their latest outstation lounge in Terminal 3 of London’s Heathrow Airport. Featuring separate First and Business Class areas, the London lounge which has been long awaited, matches the design template that Stusdioilse has brought to the other recent lounge openings. The lounge, which officially opens its doors on Wednesday, 7 December features…
Read MoreIn our exclusive interview with designer Ilse Crawford from StudioIlse, we reveal that the new London Heathrow Lounge will be the first redesigned lounge to feature both First Class and Business Class areas for passengers. The designer is the same creative force behind the new wave of Cathay Pacific lounges, including the Pier First Class Lounge and new…
Read MoreFrom everyone at TheDesignAir, we want to wish you a very Happy New Year. As the new year rolls in, we take the time to celebrate 2016. It’s been yet another fantastic year in aviation with numerous new products rolled out and airlines once again investing heavily into brand, product and design. At the start of December, we…
Read MoreWe constantly write about how lounges continue to impress us, and this is purely due to the fact there is a lounge war on right now, with airlines around the world trying to offer their passengers an experience to equal their competitors. Cathay Pacific today revealed a lounge that would not just cater for their current passenger…
Read MoreCathay 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…
Read MoreThis week sees the last of American Airlines 47 Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to receive it’s retrofit. This means that the carrier can now boast lie-flat, aisle accessible seats in Business Class and International Wi-Fi on all 67 Boeing 777s in their fleet (which comprises 47 777-200ERs and 20 777-300ERs). The completion will be music to…
Read MoreRoyal Schiphol Group and KLM just awarded the contract for the redesign and extension of the existing international KLM Crown Lounge in Amsterdam. The ambitious project by Ballast Nedam and ULC Groep will include the addition of a whole new floor to the lounge and building an outdoor terrace all based on a new interior design. When…
Read MoreLaunching alongside Plaza Premium’s New Rio Lounge, the new Aerotel, located on level 3 of the international departures pier (airside) in Terminal 2 is the first airside transit hotel in Rio (GIG), and the first for the group in South America. “Aerotel Rio de Janeiro gives new definition to airport transit hotel for travellers having long layover time at the airport or taking flights in the early hours. Designed for travellers…
Read More2015 has been an impressive year for the aviation industry, with many carriers pulling up their socks and vying for the all-elusive lucrative passenger. With oil-prices lower than before, airlines are snapping at the opportunity to revisit their products, launch new aircraft and impress their paying consumers. This means one thing, a better experience for…
Read MoreTurkmenistan’s new International Airport, built by Turkish construction company Polimeks opened to the public on the 17th September. The design of the new Ashgabat International Airport Complex was inspired from Oguz Khan and the falcon which is one of the national symbols of Turkmenistan. In fact, the falcon shaped building has been recognised by numerous authorities. The…
Read MoreThe Olympics may now be over, but there’s still good reason to travel to Rio. Tom Jobim International Airport will now play host to three Plaza Premium Lounges in South Pier and Car Park Building of Terminal 2, welcoming all travellers regardless of their airline or travel class with a total of 570 comfortable seats. Plaza Premium…
Read MoreHere’s some more positive news for Brussels, after opening ‘The Loft’ in Brussels Airport’s Terminal A in 2014, Brussels Airlines has now also inaugurated a new lounge in Terminal B, called ‘The Suite’. This is excellent news for passengers who aren’t travelling within the Schengen zone. Compared to the previous B Pier lounge, The Suite is double…
Read MoreWe’re sat in the busy ‘Bridge’ lounge in Hong Kong airport, surrounded by the hustle & bustle of the café area and the sound of Illy espressos being perfectly ground and poured by barista staff. The Bridge is one of six lounges in Hong Kong International Airport, and is one of the latest in the…
Read MoreThis month we delve into that quiet and revered airport sanctuary! TheDesignAir once again, with strategic print partner Airways magazine bring you the very best Top 10 Airport Lounges in the world 2015. As well as appearing online, they will appear in print in every monthly glossy issue of Airways magazine, available around the world. We are impressed with the…
Read MoreTheDesignAir is proud to launch our Top 10 lists for 2016 starting with our Top 10 International First Classes. Competition this year is tough, with a lot of carriers around the world investing into the front of the plane. TheDesignAir has adopted a new judging matrix for 2016, which includes a variety of criteria including cabin design, seat design,…
Read MoreAt thedesignair.net we are great fans of Cathay Pacific’s product. The seamless experience is effortless and well considered. From their onboard product to their lounges, attention to detail seems paramount, and it’s this design ethos that has put them at the top of the Lounges 2013. We take a closer look at their lounges, and…
Read MoreCathay Pacific have really pushed their investment into the passenger experience by launching last week their new ‘Bridge’ lounge. The 6th lounge to grace Hong Kong International airport sits alongside The Cabin (launched in 2010), The Arrival (launched 2008), The Pier (2001) and the recently updated ‘Wing’ (first launched in 1998) and of course their…
Read MoreFlight: CX375 Aircraft Type: 777-300ER aircraft Class: Business Class Route: DUS-HKG Flight time: 12hrs30mins Seat: 12G Date: October 2015 http://www.cathaypacific.com Best For: Regular travellers connecting from Germany to Asia with all of the ease of a direct flight. With four flights a week taking place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, this new route is already…
Read MoreThe end of December 2013 marks an historic moment for Cathay Pacific Airways as it bids farewell to its Boeing 747-400s. Proud to have one of the youngest fleet in the world, the airline has announced that it will operate the fuel efficient and environmentally beneficial Boeing 777-300ER on all of its London flights in…
Read MoreThose of you have flown through Frankfurt Am Main airport will know how the airport is a metropolis of buildings and gates, servicing hundreds of flights a day all around the world – overwhelming at first, the airport has announced their designs for their new Terminal 3, situated on the southern Apron of the airport. The…
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