It’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 we unpick the findings of the Airports Commission, Mark Vanhoenacker takes us through his book Skyfaring – a journey with a pilot, plus, the month’s news on the airways –…
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Domestic travellers from Perth can rejoice. Qantas has opened its doors to domestic passengers travelling from Western Australia with a brand new Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. Following the carriers latest design aesthetic, this bright and airy lounge offers 50% more lounge space than its predecessor. Seating 350 passengers, the spacious lounge is split into different…
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So re-inventing the safety video isn’t really anything new, we’ve covered countless airlines and their spin-off from the stereotypical safety video, where seat belts have been fastened anywhere from Middle Earth to tropical beaches and Retirement homes. However, Hawaiian Airlines has removed the gimmick and instead position themselves as the real owners of the Hawaiian market. Featuring over…
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“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…
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Air New Zealand has continued its legacy of leading the safety video meme after releasing yet another cinematic masterpiece for its onboard safety videos. The carrier teamed up with the All Blacks and an all-star line-up of international rugby greats to tackle the airline’s latest on board safety video, Men in Black Safety Defenders. Inspired by Men in Black,…
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Great news, Etihad has just opened its fourth lounge in Abu Dhabi International airport. Situated in Terminal 1, this second, 1,044 square meter space will help give passengers a choice of space to relax, making the long walk to the lounge a thing of the past. Following the signature style found in their previous lounges, the space,…
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So it’s probably not news to most, that LAN and TAM have been undergoing a merger process for the last three years, and most have already been naming the LAN and TAM group with the moniker LATAM in the interim whilst they investigate a new brand. However, today it was announced in São Paulo that the two…
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London has just received a new pay for lounge concept from Swissport and ALD. Competing against the likes of Plaza Premium Lounge within Heathrow’s fences, this new pay-as-you-go space is the first of its kind in Terminal 5, allowing BA and Iberia passengers in economy or without elite status to still enjoy a bit of pampering…
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Passengers flying from Manchester and Birmingham in the UK are starting to see real improvements in the inflight product being offered them. The airports have had fairly good connections around the world for years, but as they have been seen as less important routes for international airlines, the product rolled out to these airports weren’t the flagship products seen…
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We 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…
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KLM has just released a few choice images of their new 787-9 product due to arrive in October and has decided upon a brand new full-flat World Business Class product for its Boeing 787-9s. Unlike the carrier’s forward facing seats found in their 747’s and 777’s, the 787-9 has taken the familiar Zodiac seat for its business…
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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…
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You may never have heard of these lounges, but they are pretty exclusive. However, all you need to enter, is an American Express card. Yesterday American Express announced they are expanding The Centurion Lounge network by opening its seventh location at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), terminal D. The 8,500 square foot Lounge is currently slated to…
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Vietnam Airlines has officially launched its new corporate identity as part of its ‘four-star service upgrade.’ The brand launch coincides with their rollout of brand new B787-9 Dreamliner and A350-900 XWB aircraft and marks a major leap forward in the flag carrier’s plans to establish itself as one of Asia’s premier airlines by 2020. Whilst the…
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Premium 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…
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Brazilian carrier Gol recently announced their new brand image, refreshing a brand image that has lasted for 14 years. Whilst there is perhaps very little that has changed on the surface, the new logo with its repositioned silver ring element somehow now manages to spell ‘GOOL’ instead of Gol. This could be construed as brand…
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Voting Now Closed! TheDesignAir has launched its very first Passenger Choice Award, where our readers get to have a say on the Top Airline Brand for 2015. Whilst the judges have given us their opinion, you also had your say on which airline you feel deserves to be recognised for having the ‘best brand in the…
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United Airlines announced this week it was bringing new Global First and Business First amenity kits to the skies. Beginning Aug. 1, 2015, the airline will exclusively offer Soho House’s London based ‘Cowshed’ skin-care products onboard in newly redesigned amenity kits for premium-cabin customers on intercontinental flights. Also, a collection of Cowshed products will be available in many…
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SWISS will be ushering-in a new era in the history of its long-haul aircraft fleet next January with the arrival of the first of its nine new Boeing 777-300ERs. In SWISS configuration these new state of the art Boeing aircraft will seat a handsome 340 passengers. In SWISS’s configuration the Boeing 777-300ER will offer eight in…
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Spanish Low-Cost Metro carrier Vueling has brought bright new threads to the skies this summer, 11 years after it first launched. Vueling’s ‘innovative spirit and constant evolution’ are reflected in the new uniforms to be worn by the more than 2,000 cabin attendants employed by the airline. The idea behind the redesign project, which took…
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Premium Trans-Atlantic carrier OpenSkies announced this week it has opened a new business lounge in Paris-Orly Airport in a bid to provide its premium passengers a more complete experience across the Atlantic. Situated in Terminal West, Hall 3, after security the boutique lounge is perfectly positioned only a few meters from its boarding gate. The new lounge…
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In mid June, Air France opened up a new and improved regional lounge in the heart of Bordeaux-Mérignac airport designed by Brandimage. Whether passengers are travelling to Metropolitan France or have a connection on to an international flight from the hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, all eligible customers can now enjoy a real designer haven to wait…
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You wouldn’t be blamed for not knowing about Air Caraïbes, the French airline that is based in Pointe-à-Pietre and Martinique Airports in the French Caribbean. Being founded in 2000, it is also a relatively young carrier, but unlike some other transatlantic carriers that connect Europe to the azure seas of Guadeloupe and neighbouring islands,…
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Flight: BA27 Aircraft: Boeing 777-300 Class: World Traveller (economy) Seat: 30A Route: LHR-HKG Date: June 2015 Frequent flyer program: BA Executive Club / Avios. Part of the OneWorld Alliance http://www.britishairways.com British Airways 777-300ER Economy Class Report Written for TheDesignAir by Zoe Belhomme | As a Hong Kong-based British expat I find myself travelling between London and Hong Kong at least three…
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Vietnam Airlines yesterday launched their brand new A350 wide body aircraft on the Ho Chi Minh – Hanoi route as a way of getting their crew used to the new aircraft product before rolling out on long haul routes in a matter of weeks. The airline has improved its long haul products in a bid…
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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…
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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…
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Plaza Premium continued their global expansion of premium lounges today, by launching their brand new lounge located in the Departure Transit Hall of Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1. Following the consistent new design style found in Plaza Premium’s lounges, the 7,000-square foot space provides over 140 comfortable seats, including the lounge’s signature Honeycomb seating. Being a paid for lounge, passengers in…
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Hawaiian Airlines recently announced that business class guests traveling to any of its 11 international destinations will now receive complimentary access to the airline’s new Plumeria Lounge, a 3,600-square-foot space at the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) designed to deliver the airline’s signature hospitality in a warm, spa-inspired environment. This new lounge isn’t the same flagship lounge…
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In 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…
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