Brussels Airlines celebrates a decade of special liveries with the latest design, “The Atomium,” honoring Belgium’s creativity and pride. Architect Thomas Faes won a competition to realize the concept, which involved significant collaboration and technical refinement. The aircraft’s interior thematically complements the exterior, enriching the passenger experience with historical insights.
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Virgin Atlantic has finally unveiled its swanky new Clubhouse on the west coast of the USA. Its 6th Clubhouse globally, the new lounge features a new design aesthetic which has evolved beyond the original masterpiece in Heathrow. The LAX Clubhouse, located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, is a multi-sensory experience designed to soothe the…
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Avianca has finally brought a much needed new lounge to Miami’s J concourse, giving more options to Star Alliance premium passengers flying from this popular US gateway. Partnering with TAP Air Portugal, this is Avianca’s 11th lounge globally, and with more than a dozen flights a day, Miami is a key international destination for the…
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Air France has launched a revamped First Class ‘La Première’ experience, enhancing its premium offerings with larger suites and upgraded seats on its Boeing 777 fleet. The new design features five windows per suite, private amenities, and advanced technology, aiming to compete with top airlines. Despite minor flaws in screen placement, the launch overall appears promising.
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Cathay Pacific’s award-winning Aria Suite enhances the Business Class experience, combining innovative design and luxurious comfort. Features like customizable lighting, intuitive entertainment, and exquisite dining elevate the journey. The cabin’s aesthetics reflect a relaxing ambiance, showcasing Cathay’s commitment to passenger wellbeing, setting a new standard in premium travel.
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Korean Air has finally introduced a new brand, replacing the iconic baby blue livery that’s graced the skies since 1984. The livery and new brand comes as the airline starts its combination of Asiana into Korean Air. In an interesting, and perhaps baffling approach the airline’s planes will now sport the word “Korean”, instead of…
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Thompson Aero Seating is set to unveil the Vantage NOVA First at AIX 2025, focusing on an enhanced business-class experience. Its innovative ‘Star Configuration’ allows four passengers to socialise comfortably, complemented by custom-designed buddy seats and versatile varied-use options.
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We all know that airlines across the globe face limited suppliers and supply chains when it comes to creating passenger experiences. They are increasingly being strained by demand, which is causing delays to airline and product launches the world over. From OEMs to seat manufacturers airlines are battling two fronts. One, the race to offer…
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SAS is introducing a new uniform for its 9,000 staff, blending Scandinavian traditions with modern design. The update aims to reflect a contemporary airline identity while emphasizing professionalism, safety, and inclusivity. Designed primarily in-house, the uniforms feature gender-neutral options and welcome personal expression, marking a significant cultural shift for SAS.
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Lufthansa is the latest airline to upgrade its lounge in Heathrow Terminal 2. Now reopen, the recently renovated lounge is situated in the main terminal area, making it the favourable Star Alliance lounge for the group’s airlines operating narrowbody aircraft into Heathrow. Heathrow’s A gates only accept narrow body aircraft, and airlines like Aegean, Brussels,…
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Hawaiian Airlines has always offered a sub-standard lounge experience in comparison to its in-flight product. The lounges are often crowded and offer a limited range of coffee, snacks and POG juice, but little else. So the recent merger with Alaska Airlines has shifted Hawaiian’s ground experience up a gear as it looks to create synergies…
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Etihad Airways is one of the few airlines that allows pre-clearance into the US, meaning that passengers arrive in the US without having to face lengthy queues at immigration. However, this has always meant that prior to departure from Abu Dhabi, passengers have had to face a smaller queue to pass immigration within the airport.…
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As 2024 comes to a close, it’s great to see so many of you still engaging with the site, in fact, we’re getting more and more subscribers every year. This year our YouTube – now in it’s 3rd full year – celebrates its biggest year yet with more than 750k views and yet more ‘toilet…
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The aviation industry is set to soar in 2025 with a host of exciting developments. From innovative new routes to luxurious cabin upgrades, airlines are once again on track to forge brand new travel experiences. As the year comes to a close, we’re looking ahead to 2025 and what advancements we will see and hope…
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This year, TheDesignAir undertook 72 flights across every continent, totaling 139,736 miles and 13 days of flight time. The travels featured various airlines and experiences, including notable flights with Austrian Airlines and China Airlines. Check out our 2024 recap
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Turkish Airlines has launched its Istanbul-Sydney route, initially using the Boeing 777-300ER but now operating with the superior Airbus A350-900. The journey includes a refueling stop in Kuala Lumpur and celebrates exceptional in-flight service, dining, and luxurious lounges in Istanbul. Future plans include nonstop flights, enhancing travel between Europe and Australia.
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LOT Polish Airlines has launched a new business lounge at Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 5, marking its first investment in North America. Designed for passenger comfort, this stylish space features modern decor, relaxation and work areas, a dining section with Polish cuisine, and advanced technology, including automatic dimming windows and fast Wi-Fi.
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Delta has opened its first SkyClub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, featuring a 14,000-square-foot space that accommodates nearly 250 guests. The lounge incorporates Neoclassic design inspired by Queen Charlotte. Meanwhile, Delta’s new Boston Logan lounge aims to enhance the business class experience with exclusive dining and maritime-themed decor. Both lounges symbolise Delta’s commitment to improving ground experiences.
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TheDesignAir announced the winners of its 12th annual awards, highlighting achievements in aviation design and passenger experience for 2024. Notable winners include Oman Air for Design Innovation, Cathay as Design Airline of the Year Asia, and Etihad Airways securing the top honour globally. The competition showcased rising startups and innovative designs.
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British Airways is revamping its A380 First Class with a new seat that blends modern design and heritage, inspired by Concorde. Set for a mid-2026 rollout, features include a spacious, flat bed, enhanced privacy, and advanced technology. This upgrade aims to improve passenger experience, while also addressing existing service shortcomings.
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Qantas has unveiled a redesigned Business and Economy Class cabin for its A330 fleet, enhancing comfort for the upcoming Project Sunrise experience. The refurbishment includes larger screens, USB-C charging, and mood lighting. This multimillion-dollar program will renew the fleet starting mid-2025, signaling a shift toward a modern, inviting travel experience.
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LANTAL’s DEEP DYEING technology revolutionizes airline design by allowing for customizable, unique carpets that enhance cabin aesthetics and branding. This innovative approach fosters distinct cabin zones, improving passenger flow and experience while promoting sustainability through efficient production. It empowers airlines to create immersive environments that resonate with their brand identity and values.
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While TheDesignAir Awards 2024 public vote is due to end on the 11th November, there’s still a chance for design studios, airlines and airports to enter our Design Innovation Award which celebrates innovation in the passenger experience field that truly enhances the traveller journey. From new seats to game-changing passenger experience products, sustainable service ware…
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Delta Air Lines has just unveiled its cabin redesign, which will be applied across its entire fleet starting with the airline’s ageing 757s followed by its most modern A350s. The new design showcases a fresh, residential-inspired approach that blends luxury and comfort. The updated interiors feature premium materials, improved ergonomics, and advanced mood lighting to…
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Delta is redefining the luxury airport lounge experience with the grand opening of its Delta One Lounge at LAX, supplementing the already impressive Sky Club situated just next door in Terminal 3. Designed to be a cut above the Sky Club, this exclusive space is designed to serve nearly 200 guests and offers a fully…
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Yes, it’s that time of the year again! We are once again launching this year’s Awards after returning last year. We’ve created our shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2024 and just like every year, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public. It’s time for you to get involved! Now is your chance to…
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Thompson Aero Seating has officially launched its much-anticipated VantageNOVA (a seat i managed to experience at AIX earlier this year). It’s a premium herringbone seat designed for twin-aisle aircraft. As the latest addition to the successful Vantage seating family, the VantageNOVA aims to revolutionise passenger experience with an innovative blend of comfort, flexibility, and customisation,…
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With yesterday’s announcement, LAX is certainly on the front foot when it comes to new ground experiences. With both the new Air France and now Virgin Atlantic lounges at Los Angeles International Airport and their unique approaches to luxury, functionality, and aesthetics, there’s plenty of choice available now for SkyTeam passengers. Air France Lounge: Classic…
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In order to continue improving its fleet and the onboard experience for passengers, LATAM announced that starting in September, it will begin a refurbishment process for 24 of its Boeing 787 aircraft, with a total investment of US$360m, completely upgrading the cabin interiors with new seats, onboard entertainment, and design enhancements. However instead of kitting…
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The biggest challenge facing the passenger experience market is trying to standout in a levelled playing field. Every airline can now purchase suites with doors, all-aisle-access is no longer a market leading position, and the leading inflight entertainment systems all offer basically the same interface. But there’s still a fierce battle to claim the throne…
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