TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2017 and just like last year, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public, so you can vote for the winners. Now is your chance to pick from our shortlisted categories for Best Design Airline, by region, across the globe. All it takes…
Read MoreThompson Aero Seating have recently added another seat design to its famous and well-established Vantage range. Based on an original concept from Factorydesign, the seat was designed specifically for the single-aisle market, the new seat. Called the Vantage Solo, manages to provide all-aisle access fully-flat beds at a competitive 33″ seat pitch. The seat uses…
Read MoreYes, that’s a beach. Yes, that’s also a departure lounge (well, sort of). Virgin Holidays has just revealed plans for “The Departure Beach”, a Virgin Holidays & Virgin Atlantic branded area on Brownes Beach in Barbados where customers can hang out after they’ve checked out of their accommodation – perfect for Virgin Atlantic flyers who have…
Read MoreYou may be forgiven, even as a frequent traveller, to think the above image was snapped inside a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. There are a lot of similarities between Virgin’s signature lounges and Delta‘s latest wave of Sky Clubs. Even the similarities in the names of their airside lounges might get you confused. But Delta’s latest…
Read MoreYes, that’s right, it’s not Air Canada, It’s actually WestJet’s impressive (If somewhat familiar looking) new business class cabin that will be rolled out in early 2019 on the airline’s new 787 Dreamliner fleet which will feature an updated and slick new livery. “The introduction of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner, a state-of-the-art aircraft, is the dawn…
Read MoreLast week saw the arrival of Delta’s brand new A350 featuring the airline’s brand new Delta One suites. Delta is the North American launch customer for the A350, which sets to change the image of the carrier with a new ‘Suite-based’ Business class and Delta Premium Select cabin. Even the Main Cabin will receive an enhanced look…
Read MoreMonday didn’t just see the launch of a new route to Los Angeles on the carrier’s A350, but also of a range of stylish new tableware for award-winning Hong Kong Airlines. The carrier picked a local company to help design their new range. The award-winning, local homeware design brand JIA Inc. and inflight experience specialists…
Read MorePunta Cana is the latest airport to bring pool-side lounging to the airline environment. From December passengers travelling from the Dominican Republic can enjoy the best of both worlds; a pool to cool off in while waiting for a flight and uninterrupted views of the apron, with aircraft rubber duck-throwing distance from the pool (please…
Read MoreThis week saw Cathay, Qantas and British Airways launch a wave of new flights, adding options and increasing the oneworld global network. British Airways has added to its Gatwick leisure network by introducing Toronto and re-establishing Las Vegas in direct competition to Virgin Atlantic’s city pair. This now means BA serves Las Vegas from both…
Read MoreDelta recently announced it will be moving its operations to Terminal 2 and 3 in LAX from May 12th. It will be one of the largest terminal moves in the history of commercial aviation, but the benefits seem to outweigh the temporary inconveniences. The move is the start of a larger expansion and improvement plan for…
Read MoreToday saw the debut of American Airlines‘ newly-renovated Flagship Lounge and brand new Flagship First Dining at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. The lounge is part of a wave of new lounges opening in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Heathrow, Miami and Philadelphia. At first glance the lounge is certainly impressive, and has adopted…
Read MoreAs of today, passengers flying on Delta’s International business class ‘Delta One’ will be laying back in their own sleep suits on flights between Seattle and Shanghai, Detroit and Shanghai, Seattle and Beijing, Detroit and Beijing, and Seattle and Hong Kong. Launching a similar product to that found on sister airline Virgin Atlantic, the new sleep suits, available in small/medium…
Read MoreThere’s a lot of talk about the nostalgia of the “Golden Age of Travel”, glorified by shows like Pan Am where we see passengers sipping on whiskeys and Martinis as they jetted across the Atlantic, reclined in large recliner seats, dressed impeccably. The warm fuzzy memory of the JetSet era – with the likes of…
Read MoreBritish Airways has finally revealed images and information on its new First Wing at the carrier’s flagship Heathrow T5. First and Gold Executive Club customers travelling from the dedicated terminal will soon have access to the new ‘First Wing’, creating an exclusive walkway from check-in to the lounges in Terminal 5 bypassing the need to use the fast…
Read MoreThere is a lot of global attention on the new presidency in the US right now. While many have watched with their head in their hands recently and others have had their head in the sand, we’ve compiled some additional more reasons it might be good to book a flight sometime soon to escape the…
Read MoreTheDesignAir has had access to the full behind-the-scenes gallery of Aeromexico’s latest 787-9 aircraft which will eventually fly between Mexico City and the carrier’s worldwide destinations. Designed by New Territory, the new business cabin matches our expectations of a leading international airline. Check out our full gallery below or check out our previous story here. The colour palette…
Read MoreAs Air Canada’s revealed its new livery reveal, we raise the question, has the continuing trend of ‘Eurowhite’ liveries started to draw to a close? It was actually back in 1965 that Braniff International launched their ‘End of the plain plane’ advertising campaign – pointing out that their brightly coloured aircraft and Pucci uniforms were a unique selling…
Read MoreDelta and leading New York fashion designer Zac Posen together unveiled an exclusive uniform collection today, which will be rolled out to more than 60,000 of the airline’s frontline employees including customer service agents, flight attendants, ramp agents and technicians. From the Delta Hub, the airline states the uniforms combine “bold color palettes and classic styles, while…
Read MoreToday brought a close to the long debate over the location of London’s next runway. The new government, and the same one that is leading the UK out of Europe has decided Heathrow will play host to a third runway in a bid to increase passenger traffic. While the decision will play out for the…
Read MoreAeromexico has taken delivery of it’s new 787-9 and with it, a brand new Clase Premier product designed for the long-haul routes the aircraft will fly. Adorned with the Quetzalcoatl one-off livery which we covered earlier this month, the aircraft will delight and surprise its passengers both outside and now inside too. With the airline currently offering…
Read MoreFinally! We are getting a brand new Clubhouse in Los Angeles Terminal 2. First suggested back in 2012 by TheDesignAir, the moving of the Air New Zealand lounge from LAX’s T2 which Virgin Atlantic used to use across to the TBIT terminal, left passengers in a bit of a quandary. However, the airline announced this week…
Read MoreYou probably won’t know this, but Virgin Atlantic and Delta are the official airline partners of The O2. As part of their partnership, they are bringing a bit of style to the U.K.’s most well known entertainment venue this summer, with the launch of their permanent NY-LON Lounge Bar. Honouring the airlines’ important New York – London…
Read MoreMiami International Airport is getting three new services from Europe today. October 25th 2015 sees British Airways upgraded A380 service arrive at the airport, Virgin Atlantic‘s second daily Miami service, and a brand new connection from Turkish Airlines. The new services mark an expansion to Europe with a large expansion of seats to pick from. British Airways…
Read MoreIt’s time for next instalment of The Aviator: The podcast about all things flying. Hosted by Ted Kravitz and regular guest host Jonny Clark. This month we head back to our cool studio in London after visiting Reuben Arnold, Director of Brand & Customer Experience at Virgin Atlantic and ask him all things brand. We…
Read MoreFlight: AF457 Aircraft Type: B777-200 Class: Premium Economy Route: GRU-CDG Date: May 2016 http://www.airfrance.com We were very happy to return from our previous trip with Air France in Premium Economy to trial one of the world’s most applauded mid-cabin classes. Featuring a modern clean cabin, well appointed seats and above-standard amenities such as champagne on tap and enhanced amenity kits.…
Read MoreThis 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 MoreIt seems that TBIT isn’t the only way to fly from LAX anymore. While Virgin Atlantic recently opened their new Clubhouse in Terminal 2, sister airline Delta are bringing a bit of their magic to the passenger experience across the car park in terminal 5. Costing US$229million, the terminal wide renovations have now come to a close,…
Read MoreVirgin Atlantic successfully manage to capture the Upper Class experience in their new TV advert pitched toward business travellers. Titled “The Idea” it showcases their new B787-9 product. The airline is positioning itself to showcase their luxurious front-end product to the UK public. Replacing the airline’s Flying In The Face of Ordinary (#Fitfoo) advertising campaign, this…
Read MoreThis month we celebrate all things fashion. Our Top 10 airline uniforms for 2015 are a real feast for the eyes. This is one category where product from 40 years ago is still pitched against the very latest products on the market, and some of these products really do stand the test of time. We…
Read MoreFirst, let us start by saying, we welcome – nay applaud – investment into a new Club World product for British Airways. The past few months and steerage of new CEO Alex Cruz has seen consistent cuts to the product, at a time when it needed serious investment. Ticket prices have been constantly higher than…
Read More
TheDesignAir 