Situated approximately 40kms from Ho Chi Minh City Centre, the latest super-hub airport in Asia last week commenced construction, with an estimated first phase completion in 2025. The Long Thanh International Airport is one of the most interesting new airport developments globally right now, and reflects the relatively huge upswing in air travel to and…
Read MoreVietnamese Bamboo Airways Launches New Brand, Created By Lift Strategic Design
Last week, Hanoi-based FLC Group launched the brand design of upstart carrier Bamboo Airways. Aviation design studio LIFT Strategic Design won a global competition to develop the airline’s brand, including logo, livery and cabin interior. Daniel Baron, LIFT’s CEO, said: “we are thrilled to be working with FLC Group and Bamboo Airways on this unique…
Read MorePhilippine Airlines To Invest In New Cabin Products
Philippine Airlines‘ plan to create a 5-star airline have taken a huge leap forward this week, with the announcement that they will convert the cabin lay-out of eight economy-only A330-300s to include brand new Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class cabins. PAL is one of a few Asian carriers who have been stuck in the middle…
Read MoreQantas Reveals New 787-9 Premium Economy Cabin
Today, Qantas revealed its next-generation Premium Economy seat, which will debut on the airline’s brand new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that start flying in October 2017. In comparison to Qantas’ other Premium Economy seats, these new seats are wider and offer more functional space overall. The new seat also has a unique recline motion that provides a…
Read MoreLatest SkyTeam Lounge To Open In Beijing
Following this year’s opening of SkyTeam‘s Hong Kong lounge, the alliance is about to launch a second greater-China lounge in Beijing Capital International Airport. The sixth worldwide lounge for the group will offer a “luxurious pre-flight experience complemented by high-end amenities” for First and Business Class passengers and Elite Plus members flying on any of the…
Read MoreThe Growing Divide In Premium And Low Cost Brands, And Those Stuck In The Middle.
The rise of the low cost brand a decade ago challenged the legacy carriers to reconsider their business model. Passengers were able to pick between the privileges of a packet of nuts, or a bare bones charge-through-the-teeth model where even you seat choice was a privilege. However, through the natural evolution of business, the…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Exclusive Look At Vietnam Airlines 787-9
We were delighted to be invited to Vietnam Airlines inaugural Dreamliner launch from London Heathrow today. It gave us the opportunity to see the carrier’s new 787-9 up close and personal on stand at Terminal 4 before its flight back to Vietnam. On the outside, Vietnam Airlines’ 787 has a fantastic colour to it, and…
Read MoreVietnam Airlines Launch Refreshed Brand Image
Vietnam Airlines has officially launched its new corporate identity as part of its ‘four-star service upgrade.’ The brand launch coincides with their rollout of brand new B787-9 Dreamliner and A350-900 XWB aircraft and marks a major leap forward in the flag carrier’s plans to establish itself as one of Asia’s premier airlines by 2020. Whilst the…
Read MoreVietnam Airlines Introduce New A350 On Ho Chi Minh – Hanoi Route
Vietnam Airlines yesterday launched their brand new A350 wide body aircraft on the Ho Chi Minh – Hanoi route as a way of getting their crew used to the new aircraft product before rolling out on long haul routes in a matter of weeks. The airline has improved its long haul products in a bid…
Read MoreVietnam Airlines Are One To Watch This Summer
On 14th May Vietnam Airlines celebrated the completion of their 787-9 test flight. This is a big (and final) step in bringing the carrier into the international arena, as their new products on both their Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 will re-ignite interest in the carrier as they go above and beyond in delivering a passenger…
Read MoreVietnam Airlines Show Off 787 and A350 Interiors
Vietnam Airlines has revealed (on the same day) both it’s 787 and A350 interiors which will be entering service later this year. The airline has opted for two different business classes between the two airframes, yet both offer substantial improvements on the current product, leapfrogging the carrier ahead to become a real competitor in the…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Top 10 Best Aviation Product Releases For 2015
2015 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 MoreTrip Report: Thai Airways Royal Silk A380 Business Class June 2016
Flight: TG911 Aircraft Type: A380-800 Class: ‘Royal Silk’ Business Class Route: LHR-BKK Date: June 2016 http://www.thaiairways.com We were lucky enough to fly on Thai Airways almost twenty years ago, one of our first long haul flights as a kid, and since then, the airline has always stuck in our hearts. We remember orchid flowers being distributed to passengers and that…
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 MoreThomson Airways Punches Above Its Weight With Radical New Cabin Concepts
This has taken us by surprise, as a traditionally non-innovatve travel brand, Thomson Airways today unveiled its radical and forward thinking five year vision to change the face of holiday flying through new state-of-the-art aircraft and innovative on-board product and service concepts. The two centre pieces of this new vision push the boundaries of economy…
Read MoreCathay Gives Three Good Reasons To Fly To London
Cathay Pacific have recently managed to swell their schedule to a whopping 5 flights a day to London, UK. That additional daily return flight means that there will now be 35 flights a week between London and Hong Kong. Flown predominantly on their 777 fleet, the airline is fighting the middle eastern carrier supremacy at one of the world’s…
Read MoreAsiana Launches A Familiar Looking New First Class Suite
Perhaps slightly strangely named, the ‘OZ’ suite (after their airline code) has been revealed by Asiana Airlines. Asiana is one of my favourite airlines, quietly confident in their offering, very stylish and very reserved, there is something almost ‘Swiss’ about them. Whilst this suite isn’t anything really that new for those that have travelled on…
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