Air New Zealand continues its Inflight Safety video marketing campaign with ‘Aotearoa, the 8th Wonder of the World’

Air New Zealand is no stranger to alternative, promotional safety videos. Yet today they’ve launched their most restrained and geographically respectful video yet in partnership with Tourism New Zealand. Dubbed ‘Aotearoa, the 8th Wonder of the World’ the safety video is reflective of the current climate, helping support the domestic tourism industry. The video features the…

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Qatar Airways launches elegant new special livery to celebrate the World Cup in 2022

For the foreseeable future, we’re going to be seeing fewer special liveries while airlines try to save cash and focus on a service return, so those rare few that do roll out will certainly garner some attention now. Qatar Airways is one of the first in this period to reveal a special livery, and naturally,…

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JetBlue adds refreshed Mint amenities in preparation for its Trans-Atlantic flights

JetBlue – in a bid to fully refresh its competitively priced fully-flat bed Mint product – has announced its first major refresh of its JetBlue Mint service. While we know that the airline will be launching London flights in Q3 2021 with an all-new (and very exciting) new hard product, it was about time the…

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London City Airport’s latest brand positioning might help it in a post-COVID world

Back in late 2017, London City Airport went through a new branding exercise that introduced a softer, lifestyle approach stripping away its hard-faced business image that reflected the city worker demographic looking to hop to and from Europe, New York and the rest of the UK. Brought to life by The Allotment, the new brand…

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WestJet opens new ‘Elevation’ lounge in Calgary. A Flagship lounge aimed at cementing the airline’s design credentials

WestJet might not be the first brand that comes to mind when announcing a new Flagship lounge considering its half-dozen fleet of long-haul aircraft. But the airline is certainly looking to craft a niche for itself as the airline of choice for Canadian travellers. Dubbed ‘Elevation’, WestJet’s new lounge in Calgary spans more than 9,300…

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From boutique carriers to beds, bars and onboard spas, the ME3’s need to evolve the landscape for its premium travellers

2020 has seen the rule book thrown out of the window. Carriers that have adapted quickly will see the largest market share in 2021. While many airlines continue to struggle just to survive day-to-day, some have taken this as an opportunity to level the playing field. While clear regional battles are at play across Asia,…

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The Flygge Series: Qantas launches retro leisure clothing range by Martin Grant

In the second of our Flygge series, we turn our eyes to Qantas. ‘Flygge’, a wordplay on Hygge – the Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment – is TheDesignAir’s name for this new emerging airline trend where brands are now becoming a part…

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The Flygge Series: A taste of Finnair, in your own home

COVID-19 has certainly kept airlines on their toes, and while many airlines are frantically trying to get their operations off the ground once again, there’s been an unusual, yet somewhat expected side effect. For years airlines have strived to become lifestyle brands, as relevant in the home as they are in the skies. The problem…

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American Express opens 13th lounge in JFK’s Terminal 4

American Express has just opened its new lounge in JFK, and with more than 15,000 square feet behind its doors, the new space is the largest Centurion Lounge yet and the first with two floors to explore. Naturally, because of the current travel climate, it hasn’t opened quite as the designers had originally envisaged it,…

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Delta welcomes first guests in Salt Lake City’s brand new Sky Club

With Salt Lake City International Airport recently opening its latest terminal, Delta – the largest of airlines operating from SLC – has also opened its largest Delta Sky Club with guests able to enjoy the new space from today. Covering just over 28,000 square feet, the new Club celebrates the area’s famous mountainous landscape while…

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MEA receives new A321neo with new interiors and livery

MEA doesn’t often feature on TheDesignAir, as it has slipped under the radar for a while with its older fleet and less-than-design approach to aviation. However it seems the airline has turned a corner and is featuring firmly on our radar now. While not as ‘bells and whistles’ as many other Middle Eastern carriers, it…

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OMG, OWG launches brand image and we’re a bit … WOW

Nolinor the well known charter outfit from Canada has created a scheduled offshoot low cost carrier called ‘Off We Go’ or OWG as the livery would have us know. Apparently launching end of August it’s determined to brush off the Coronavirus stigma facing the travel sector and start affordable flights from its home in Quebec…

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British Airways goes on the charm offensive with extended Executive Club memberships and enhanced temporary catering

British Airways is having a tough time at the moment, like many airlines around the world, however the narrative of late has been surrounding job cuts, legal cases and because it has lagged behind other carriers in some of its communications, some rather frustrated customers who feel the airline has been utilising the pandemic as…

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LaGuardia’s transformation breathes new life (and light) in to the airport

Yesterday saw the opening of the brand-new Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall at LaGuardia Airport, the biggest milestone to date in the airport’s ongoing $8 billion transformation into a 21st century airport. The project – one of the largest public private partnerships in aviation history – includes the demolition and replacement of every terminal…

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Buzz and Delta are the latest to bring out ‘Wellbeing Kits’

The addition of ‘Wellbeing Kits’ to flights might not be a brand new idea, but over the past few weeks, launches of these new amenities have certainly been a welcome addition in the airline’s arsenal to help empower passengers over their own hygiene and sanitisation. Roll over Naomi Campbell, who last year – with her…

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American unifies 787 Business Class product, with the 787-8 receiving an upgraded experience.

We’re starting to see some positive stories across the industry now, focussing on a return to service and a return to growth. From Wizz’s latest route announcements, to design agencies and airlines setting up their near-future solutions to Covid-19. However, American Airlines’ latest 787 deliveries re-energise a positive conversation about cabin releases on the horizon.…

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Predicting move to new amenity offerings in the near future, Formia launches the ‘Clean Kit’

While airlines are trying to get to grips with what their new landscape will look like, the suppliers to the industry are working frantically to help the industry prepare for the new normal. While perhaps the most logical requirement, especially after the recent wave of PPE requirements from airlines would be an updated amenity offering,…

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ANA makes huge improvements to passenger experience in Haneda, including Kengo Kuma inspired lounges

The end of the month will see ANA welcome the addition of a range of new services at Haneda Airport Terminal 2’s international area. The airline has invested in passenger enhancements across the terminal including three new lounges, self-service baggage drops and enhanced security check procedures. While we won’t be seeing these bursting at the…

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Plaza Premium opens new departures lounge in Sydney International Airport

Sydney’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…

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Battle of the new safety video in Australasia

This month saw Qantas and Air New Zealand both launch new safety videos. While both have taken different approaches, the premise of celebrating their national heritage and importance in their market is what ties them together. Qantas Qantas, who is celebrating its centenary – no mean feat in the current aviation climate – takes a…

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New lounge in Paris CDG underway for Air France, brought to life by Jouin Manku

Air France and Paris Aéroport are underway in constructing a new lounge in Charles De Gaulle’s 2F terminal, used for its Schengen departures. Due to be complete by the end of the year, the lounge will be brought to fruition by a brand new creative design studio, infamous for its work with Alain Ducasse, Van Cleef…

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Qatar Airways opens new lounge in Singapore Changi Airport

Qatar Airways officially opened its new Premium Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport at Terminal 1, and wanted to show it some love, opening it on Valentines Day, this month.According to the airline, the new Singapore lounge “serves as the benchmark and blueprint for Qatar Airways’ future Premium Lounges worldwide,” however it features many of the…

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Jason Wu launches new sleepwear range on EVA Air, brought to life by Buzz

EVA Air, unlike it’s competitor China Airlines, offers sleepwear for it’s Business Class passengers on the carrier’s long-haul flights. Extending on a successful partnership, EVA Air is updating its collaboration with internationally renowned fashion designer Jason Wu to create its second-generation inflight sleepwear. The exclusive partnership brought to life by global design company Buzz, sees…

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Delta go on a spending spree for the greater good, and even take time to say thank you to their 90,000 staff

Whether it’s for sadness, or for joy, we’re pretty sure there were a few tears this month in Delta’s finance department as they agreed to part with $2.6billion dollars across two initiatives in as many weeks. The first, starting in March sees Delta Air Lines commit a grand sum of $1 billion over the next…

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Cathay has a fairly unique challenge, and is acting pro-actively, but it is it making the right choices to maintain its brand values?

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…

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Aegean deliver considered, concise brand image on the inside and out

Aegean, the national Greek airline has just unveiled a new brand identity, livery and aircraft interiors designed by Priestmangoode. The London-based studio worked closely with the airline to develop a vision for the new brand, building on an airline that already has a decent reputation for service and hard product. This project encompassed pretty much…

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Breeze Airways, Neeleman’s latest venture shows off its brand image

Meet Breeze, previously known as Moxy, has shed off its cloak of mystery and revealed its new name, logo and livery. Breeze Airways is currently applying for its airline operating certificate with the FAA as well as US DoT and hopes to be flying by the end of 2020. This is no fly-by-night. Breeze will be…

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Saudia launches new uniforms, trialling on London and Paris routes

Saudia has just announced the rollout of its new cabin crew uniforms, featuring a “refined, new take on the attire” designed for all members of the hospitality team onboard. Saudia began the preview of the new uniform on the airline’s Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow routes, with plans to add the rest of…

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Air France adds new Premium Economy amenity kit, improving collection

This month sees Air France launch a new amenity kit with a brand new design for passengers travelling in its long-haul Premium Economy cabin. The airline regularly updates their kits, and this time they’ve decided to reflect the colder months across the Northern hemisphere right now, wrapping them up in a “padded” texture. This latest…

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Iberia launches new uniforms by Teresa Helbig at Madrid Fashion Week

Iberia just released its latest uniform in front of a fashion-focussed audience of hundreds at the 71st annual edition of Madrid FashionWeek. Designed by Teresa Helbig, this is the latest designer to grace Iberia’s crews following fashion greats including Manuel Pertegaz, Elio Berhanyer and Adolfo Domínguez. The expansive line of clothing and accessories will adorn…

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