Flight: AY0077 Aircraft Type: A330-300 Class: Business Class Route: HEL-KIX Date: November 2014 http://www.finnair.com Best for: Affordable, one stop flights to a whole host of Asian destinations. Most likely to sit next to: Designers, Architects and super cool Asian-techie travellers. Business or pleasure: The flight times are perfect for business travellers, however, with no WiFi, this is the perfect place to unwind and recharge…
Read MoreSo Malaysia Airlines has extended it’s outstanding ‘Chef-On-Call‘ service (previously only available to first class and platinum frequent fliers) so that travellers in Business Class can now choose their meal 24 hours before travel on certain international routes, meaning their dining options are increased and freshly prepared for their flight. A passenger can now pick…
Read MoreAs JAL announced today that they were launching the JAL 777 ‘Sky Suite’ interior on their New York route as of May this year, we thought we would take a look at the new product that has already been rolled out on the London route as of January 2013. JAL has always been a solid…
Read MoreWe love it when airlines compete against each other to fight for passengers. The end result is a better experience for the travellers. Virgin Australia today announced their brand new business product which will start being rolled out early next year for both domestic and international routes on their wide body fleet. The familiar reverse…
Read MoreRoyal Jordanian, famous for their striking charcoal coloured livery, have recently received the first of their 787s, in a thedesignair.net exclusive, we reveal the images in full high resolution for you to salivate over. What is evident, from entering the aircraft is the sense of space. Royal Jordanian have been one of the first carriers…
Read MoreIt’s been a busy day for Cathay Pacific today, with both the launch of their Hong Kong – Manchester route and the grand reveal of their latest lounge. It may look like cigars and a glass of scotch is mandatory as per Mad Men, but we are in love with an über-cool understated new lounge from…
Read MoreThere has been talk of flights between Hawaii and Europe for years, and the latest news of Norwegian Airlines and Oslo airport being in discussions with Honolulu is nothing surprising, as it is a market that is terribly underserved. We know all too well as we make the trip every 10 months or so. But…
Read MoreBritish Airways Business Class Report Flight: BA2666 Aircraft Type: 737-400 Class: Business Class (Club Europe) Route: LGW – RAK Date: 02nd August 2013 Best for: Leisure Travellers who pick up a rash from low cost carriers. Most likely to sit next to: On this flight, most likely business executives using their airmiles to ship themselves and their entire family (including Nanny)…
Read MoreGlobal Architect firm Grimshaw has announced it is not only designing a new airport in Istanbul but also developing the scheme for an airport expansion in Lima, Peru. Whilst designs for Lima have yet to be released (expect them mid 2015), images of the New International Airport in Istanbul showcase the architects design flair. In Peru…
Read MoreFlyDubai, the up and coming short-mid haul carrier from Dubai, has recently given their competitors a run for their money. They’ve just announced that by the end of the year, they will be rolling out business class seating across their fleet. 3 rows of 2×2 seating will now form the front of their planes. The…
Read MoreLet us start by saying, we can’t wait until Etihad finally decide to launch a hotel concept, not that they have ever hinted at doing such a thing. The reason being, is that they have spent so many years looking at the hospitality area to develop their entire offering, they have become experts in their…
Read MoreSo welcome to 2013, and business is booming (allegedly) so why not take a review of some of the best business classes available around the world right now. Whether it’s window shopping or a serious decision, our team of experts have scoured the world to find some of the most exclusive cabins available this year.…
Read MoreThis 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 MoreAs it’s 4th of July, we thought we would bring you a little bit of Americana to the site today. We have highlighted 4 excellent reasons to book a ticket to the US right now. 1. British Airways & Los Angeles Why British Airways? British Airways accepted it’s first A380 today, with much media hype…
Read MoreCathay 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 MoreOur friends at Finnair have just announced the new interiors for their A350 fleet which will come into service mid 2015. The A350, which has been in the shadow of their newer cousin, the A330 Neo as of late, now can sit proud about the product they can offer onboard, thanks in part due to Finnish ‘Designer’ airline…
Read MoreWhilst the world waits with baited breath for the new livery for AA, and all eyes are on the 777-300ER, the first frame to show the new livery, AA have released photos of the interior of the plane’s first class cabin instead of just CGI composites. Whilst rumours are rife amongst the industry of an announcement…
Read MoreIt’s your lucky day if you are arriving into Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2 and 3. The airport, which is still one of the busiest in the world, has been overhauled over the past few years to keep up with demand and refresh their international image. Delta Arrivals Lounge LHR Terminal 3 Whilst Terminal 3 already…
Read MoreFlight: CX254 Aircraft Type: 777-300ER Class: Premium Economy Route: LHR-HKG Date: 30th November 2013 http://www.cathaypacific.co.uk Best for: Savvy frequent travellers who are happy with a great reclining chair but don’t want to spend their money on business class. Most likely to sit next to: On our flight, I was next to business travellers, one of which was a Boeing Engineer, and most…
Read MoreFiji Airways recently celebrated the arrival of their first ATR ‘Fiji Link‘ aircraft. The latest piece in the Fiji Airways metaphorical brand-jigsaw. Along with this are new uniforms for Fiji Link, which are more bright and colourful and in keeping with the spirit of the archeipeligo of the Fiji Islands. However, today they announced the…
Read MorePerhaps 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…
Read MoreVirgin America have just announced the launch of ‘The Loft’, their LAX Lounge which has finally been opened in LAX’s Terminal 3. The Loft will be a pleasant change from the slightly drab terminal waiting area security side, and offers a contemporary eco-friendly, if not a little sparse environment to relax before boarding your flight.…
Read MoreFlight: EY18 Aircraft Type: A330-300 Class: Business Class Route: LHR-AUH Date: July 2014 http://www.etihad.com Best for: International business class travellers looking for luxury with one-stop connections Most likely to sit next to: Local Abu Dhabi residents or über-cool marketing and media types. Business or pleasure: This is an airline all about pleasure, whilst the carrier offers wi-fi and large tables to work from and…
Read MoreAir New Zealand has recently announced it will leave Terminal 2 at LAX to move to the TBIT terminal to sit with its Star Alliance partners. This is great news for Air New Zealand, allowing them the opportunity to design a brand new, modern lounge in the terminal, that will be used by its Star…
Read MoreTAM airlines has pretty much been under the radar since their recent merger with LAN earlier this year, with many of the details still being ironed out since the combination of two of South America’s biggest carriers. That was until a couple of days ago, when LAN blasted their competitors out of the water with…
Read MoreThis month we feature our Top 10 Lounges 2012. Competition is getting tough, as lounges are constantly improving year on year, but our selections are based on product offering, design aesthetic, unique offerings and synergy with the respective airline’s brand. Let’s commence with Number 10… 10. Emirates First Class Lounge, Dubai (DXB) A wine…
Read MoreOne of our guilty pleasures here at thedesignair.net is onboard pyjamas. Give us a set and we are friends for life. Virgin Atlantic have been offering their understated black pyjamas for years, and whilst they’ve varied in size and fit over the past few incarnations, they’ve remained a constant fixture in the back of our…
Read MoreWith the recent arrival (end of last year) of its first Boeing 787 up to a total of 19, Aeromexico become the first airline in Mexico and the number 14th around the world to operate the aircraft. Aeromexico are proud of their 787, which will now operate on the flagship London Heathrow route. With the new arrival…
Read MoreAs we head into 2013, it’s time to start planning the best places to go for the year ahead. Here at TheDesignAir we’ve wrapped up the best 10 destinations, whether it be for the best in air travel, best new airports or the hottest hotels to stay in. So without further ado, here’s the run-down…
Read MoreIf you have been travelling recently on our favourite Finnish airline to Japan over the past couple of weeks you may have seen a myriad of Kimonos adorning the cabin crew designed by none-other than Marimekko. The reason? To celebrate the Japanese Cherry Blossom “Sakura”, a season in Japan that brings in a huge influx of…
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