China Airlines has now released a new menu and tableware to compliment its Japan routes. The airline will partner with Toutouan, a famous restaurant in Tokyo, to launch their “natural style” Japanese cuisine for Premium Business/Business Class on all Japanese routes. Brand new Japanese tableware will also complement the cuisine. “By bringing Japan’s signature banquet…
Read MoreJapan Airlines’ Tsurumaru inspires new range of origami crane amenities by Nendo
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 MoreANA relaunches AirJapan as new mid-market carrier in 2023
Following ANA’s announcement that it was going to launch a new airline brand back in 2020, details have emerged today of how this brand will look. Dubbed ‘AirJapan’, ANA’s new carrier is “a new airline brand for medium-haul international routes.” Air Japan is actually just one part of ANA’s transformation of its business model to…
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 MorePhilippine Airlines introduces new regional A321 Neo fleet
Philippine Airlines is continuing to improve its passenger experience, investing in new aircraft and turning the carrier around from its earlier, higher density approach to its business. In the past few years that has meant new long-haul business class cabins, improved lounges and A321s with fully flat seats for medium-long haul operations across Australasia. The…
Read MoreANA 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…
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 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 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 MoreHonu, The World’s Largest Flying Turtle, Leaves The Paintshop
Yes, that’s right, ANA’s first ‘Flying Honu’ is almost headed to the skies, with the airline’s first A380 rolling out of the printshop last week. Japan’s largest airline put on a big show in Hamburg as the behemoth revealed itself from its hangar. The new plane is Japan’s first Airbus A380 and sports a Hawaiian green…
Read MoreANA launches awesome new luxury cabins in collaboration with famed Japanese architect and British design team Acumen
We are in awe by the latest developments at ANA (All Nippon Airways). The airline has just announced its collaboration with famed architect Kengo Kuma and leading British designers Acumen to roll out a total of twelve completely redesigned Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in time for the Tokyo 2020 games. The first redesigned (premium-heavy) aircraft will…
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 More10 Things We Loved In 2018
Air Tahiti Nui’s brand new image We fell in love with Air Tahiti Nui’s new brand image by FutureBrand and Alexander Lee, which brought the island nation to life in the skies of the Pacific. Careful attention to detail, bright bold colours and stunning iconographic patterns caught our eye this year and certainly brought a…
Read MoreANA’s Continued Passion For All Things Cosmic Includes New Space Food On Narita-Houston Flights
A not-so-long time away on an airline far, far away, ANA brings a brand new menu on their Narita-Houston flights. While the airline has been courting the last frontier for the past few years with their Star Wars themed aircraft (forgive the cross-sci-fi reference) the carrier has just announced a range of space food that…
Read MoreANA Reveals New Lounge In Honolulu, Specifically Designed For A380
ANA have revealed the next stage of their unique A380 Flying Honu service between Japan and Honolulu. Honolulu’s Ewa concourse is going to see a brand new lounge featuring an ornate carved wooden tree ceiling, specifically for ANA with direct lounge access to the aircraft for their Business and First Class passengers. As well as…
Read MoreANA Shows Off New Flying Honu A380 Interior Product
ANA announced the features of Japan’s first Airbus A380, launching in spring 2019. This aircraft will be introduced on ANA’s Tokyo – Honolulu service, and each cabin is specially designed to meet the passenger’s needs on this very bespoke route. Honolulu is loved by many Japanese families, couples, newlyweds, and Hawaii is a popular destination for…
Read MoreSingapore Airlines Fantastic New A380 First and Business Class Products Are True Market Disruptors
Taking a leaf out of Etihad’s book, Singapore Airlines has launched a breathtaking brand new vision for their A380s including new First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy products, showcasing how for SIA, the A380 is certainly still an important part of the carrier’s future. Riding on the theme of “Space made personal, experience the difference”,…
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 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 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 MoreNew Emirates Japanese Menu Reflects Airline’s Fascination With Regional Cuisine
Most airlines around the world naturally have to offer a variety of international cuisine which reflect the distinct route networks they fly. Japanese routes always stand out from a passenger experience perspective, as the dining experience is so different from traditional Western culture that not only new menus but new tableware has to be developed to…
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…
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 MoreC-3PO Will Fly For The First Time Courtesy Of ANA
ANA announced today that it will reveal another new Star Wars themed aircraft to its fleet, adding to its three existing planes that have Star Wars characters as livery. The latest droid to grow wings is C-3PO, one of the only characters to be featured in every single Star Wars film so far. As part of the…
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