This 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 MoreBack in March we announced a new wave of lounges at Haneda Airport for Japan Airlines. The airline has just announced and opened its brand new addition to its first class wing, which is the height of modernity and luxury. The crowning glory called ‘RED Suite’ is the new adult hideaway for JAL, which is basically somewhere for…
Read MoreKorean Air is the latest carrier to embrace the new B/E Aerospace Apex business class suite. Following both JAL and Oman Air, Korean Air has opted for these increasingly popular forward facing private suites, which all offer aisle access and increased privacy. Just like Japan airline’s suites, Korean Air’s “Prestige suites” turn into 74 inch long beds. When…
Read MoreIt just keeps getting better. Hawaiian Airlines has partnered once again with Pow! Wow! to create a brand new mobile masterpiece that can be seen driving around Honolulu Airport, delivering catering to the airline’s fleet of aircraft. To continue the airline’s support of local and International artists, the airline commissioned Hawai’i and Japan’s top street artists…
Read MoreHawaiian Airlines and Disney yesterday unveiled the first of three custom Airbus A330 aircraft being adorned with imagery from the animated comedy adventure “Moana” coming to the screens in November. The first of the three decal designs features four Disney characters from the movie on Hawaiian’s fuselage as they take off on a ‘way finding journey’, including the demigod Maui,…
Read MoreFlight: HA450 Aircraft Type: A330-200 Class: Business Class (International) Route: KIX-HNL Flight time: 7:03 Seat: 3C Date: November 2014 http://www.hawaiianairlines.com Best for: Hawaiian based residents, who use Hawaiian regularly. The crowd: A mix of young Japanese trendsetters and families. Business or pleasure: Hawaii is a big market for the Japanese, with limited connectivity and recliner seats, this is for those headed away on pleasure.…
Read MoreNow we love a good amenity kit here at thedesignair.net. It seems that every airline has tied in with another brand, Emirates and Bvlgari, Cathay Pacific and Jurlique and British Airways and Elemis. However, Japan Airlines has showcased their new amenity kits by none-other than super-cool Spanish brand Loewe. Only available in first class, the…
Read MoreThe world went crazy this week as Star Wars Premiered in Los Angeles. Part of the action were ANA who’s partnership with the Star Wars franchise runs deep. The force certainly is strong with ANA. Japan’s largest airline shuttled the cast and crew of Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens from the World Premiere in Hollywood on Monday…
Read MoreOk, so we admit we aren’t the biggest sporting fans, but we do like it when an airline gets into the spirit of supporting their nations’ teams. Historically both Qantas and Air New Zealand show national pride in their sporting prowess, however, after Japan’s surprising victory over South Africa, ANA took over London’s Piccadilly Circus…
Read MoreJapanese carrier ANA have been having some fun with their 787 recently, both playing Star Wars with some avid sci-fi aficionados and also launching their new Brussels flight with a 787 service. On October 17, 2015, the R2-D2 ANA JET Fan Appreciation Flight event was held at Haneda Airport. A total of 91 passengers were selected—42 chosen from…
Read MoreThings have changed in our Top 10! Every month, our esteemed judge panel—which consists of industry experts, frequent travelers, industry analysts and aviation enthusiasts—votes its Top 10 airlines by measuring different elements such as Best Liveries, Business Classes, and so on. This month, we’ve announced our annual Passenger Choice awards. TheDesignAir asked the public to vote for their favorite airline brand, and the results are…
Read More“My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness.” Excellent news Jedis. Japan’s largest airline ANA announced that two more of its planes will be decorated with Star Wars characters as part of an agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. BB-8, a brand new character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens scheduled for theatrical release in December 2015, will be displayed on the…
Read MoreIn the heart of Honolulu Airport, TheDesignAir talks exclusively with Avi Mannis at Hawaiian Airlines on their home turf, discussing the past, the future, brand and livery, plus what it means to be a truly successful ‘destination carrier’ The Roots of the Hawaiian Airlines Brand Sat in Hawaiian Airlines offices just on the edge of…
Read MoreWe’ve been waiting a while for this, but we’re over the moon. Literally. The R2-D2 ANA Jet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, rolled-out from the Boeing Everett Factory for the first time this morning. The R2-D2 ANA Jet is the first of three planes to be decorated with Star Wars characters as part of an agreement between ANA,…
Read MoreLast May, Japan AIrlines announced the airline was renovating the airline’s 767 cabin for its international routes. The first route will be first introduced on flights between Tokyo (Narita) and Vancouver from December 09, 2013 and following this, flights between Tokyo (Narita) and Kuala Lumpur from January 2014. The airline also plans to expand this new service…
Read MoreCoinciding with the recent terminal’s expansion, Japan Airlines have revealed their brand new Haneda International Airport Lounges in Tokyo set to open March 30th 2014. The airline has enlarged the area of the original Sakura Lounge by about 2.5 times. There are now 314 seats in the main hall and 271 seats in the “Sky View” terrace…
Read MoreIn next five years Polish flag carrier LOT plans to be twice as big an airline as it is now, which is good news as its still relatively unknown to the International market even though it has been flying for 86 years. Planning on carrying 10 million passengers a year by 2020, LOT plans to have…
Read MoreWe sense a disturbance in the air… and we love it! We all remember how cool it was when we learned R2-D2 could fly, and well, it’s happening again. All Nippon Airways announced today it will introduce a very special Star Wars livery, with the iconic (and only true link to all Star Wars movies) R2-D2, on its newest…
Read MoreCo-written by Raymond Kollau, airlinetrends.com Hybrid low-cost carrier Skymark – Japan’s third largest airline – turned heads in early 2011 when it announced an order for six A380 superjumbo’s which will feature only 394 seats in a premium two-class configuration: 114 angled lie-flat Business seatss on the upper deck and 280 ‘shell-style’ Premium Economy seats on the lower deck. Skymark…
Read MoreIt’s not very often we see the photos of the inside of a terminal and stop in our tracks, but that is exactly what Toyko Narita have managed to do with their new Terminal 3 design, dedicated to low cost carriers. Serving Japan Vanilla Air, Jeju Air, Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Airways and Spring Airlines, the new…
Read MorePremium Japanese carrier ANA has announced they will be introducing their super-spacious 787-9 Dreamliner on a brand new Tokyo Haneda – Sydney route on December 11th this year. Whilst this new non-stop flight is still subject to governmental approval, passengers on the ever-popular Kangaroo route will welcome the news of increased competition and enhanced products…
Read MoreWe are introducing a new Top 10 this month. One of the most diverse categories, ‘Low Cost Carrier Brands’ is now getting the recognition it rightfully deserves. Traditionally speaking, the low-cost model is only three decades old, and has grown up fast. The once ‘bare-essentials’ image that these carriers used to have, has now evolved into intuitive, modern and…
Read MoreOpen today, Cathay Pacific passengers travelling out of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport are in for a treat. Located at Level 3 in the Concourse G Departure Hall, Cathay’s Bangkok lounge adopts the airline’s new lounge design template that has already been employed at Cathay Pacific lounges in Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Manila. Measuring in at 679…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Give Away! We have a First Class Cathay Pacific Amenity kit to give away, featuring our favourite skincare brand Aesop. We will ship this kit to one lucky reader who shares this story on Facebook through our Facebook page. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our Facebook page and get sharing all of our stories! We…
Read MoreJAL has just announced an industry first, bringing even more comfort to the skies in their first class cabin. Originally the airline used tempur mattresses and pillows in their first class cabin, but after response from their passengers flying in their business class cabin, the airline has rolled out the already established ‘airweave’ mattress and…
Read MoreAir France have just launched their latest advertising campaign titled “France Is In The Air.” Headlined by a worldwide commercial created by BETC and directed by We Are From LA, the three week campaign will launch this Sunday and will be broadcast in France, USA, Brazil, Japan, China and Italy.It also will be supported by campaigns in the…
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 MoreContinuing our comparison reports on some of the most popular and competitive routes in the world, we have taken a look at our Asian super-highway between Singapore and Tokyo-Narita. There are 5 main competitors (plus low-cost Scoot) that run the city pair, including ANA, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Delta and United. To make it easy we have…
Read MoreDuring the same week ANA announce their partnership with Noma in Japan, Cathay Pacific and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announce their first-ever international partnership for crafting unique inflight menus for the airline over the coming 12 months. The strategic partnership brings top chefs from various renowned Mandarin Oriental properties in Hong Kong, London, Paris, New…
Read MoreEtihad Airways has introduced innovative new inflight products and enhancements to its long-haul and ultra-longhaul cabins, lifting the level of its acclaimed onboard service in First, Business and Economy Class. The new upgrade program is also being introduced across the rest of the fleet with products naturally varying on flight duration. “Inspired by the world’s finest…
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