When I first saw the post from Skyliners that there was a reveal of the new Iberia livery, I was hoping that it was just a mis-identified livery from some budding flight sim enthusiast. However, on notice that there was a physical photograph of the livery in work, my heart sank. Iberia in my opinion had one…
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So, finally the wait is over, and I have to admit, I’m not really surprised, many guessed a very similar treatment to the all new American Airlines livery, and many got it quite close. Now whilst the logo had been received to much fanfare, and much hype. I can’t help but feel utterly disappointed with…
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You might mistakenly thought the image here was of an AirBerlin aircraft, due to it’s pretty ‘samey’ appearance, but this is Air Canada‘s New Leisure Brand “rouge” (no, not a lipstick) very similar in concept to Qantas’ JetStar, launching from Toronto (and Montreal) mid 2013. Whilst this name might have taken most aviation buffs as a surprise,…
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Congratulations to Jorg Schulz-Gerchow, Harry Hook and Philip Bircham, our latest TheDesignAir winners, who have each won themselves some fantastic, and exclusive Fiji Airways goodies, they are winging their way to you! For those who entered and sadly didn’t win the goodies, fear not, as our lovely friends at Fiji Airways may have another special…
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Virgin 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.…
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Whilst 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…
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It seems that Lufthansa’s pet project ‘Direct 4 U‘ has finally come to fruition, with a launch of the ‘new’ germanwings penned in for July 1st 2013. Germanwings’ old livery, of fake metallic, lurid yellow and deep burgundy is going, and is being replaced with a fairly decent and modern Euro-white livery that seems a lot more…
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With the recent update of both their AA IOS app, featuring slicker graphics, cleaner navigation and smaller more restrained typography; and the new check in kiosks starting appearing across the network with new updated graphics, it is clear to see that American have invested into a new brand. Safe to say it is more than…
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Virgin America Economy Class Report Flight: VX290 Aircraft Type: A320 Class: Economy Class (Main Cabin Express) Route: LAX – CUN Date: 06th November 2012 Best for: Cheap tickets to cool destinations, with less emphasis on cheap, more on chic. Most likely to sit next to: If you were me, slightly larger Americans laden with neck pillows, that didn’t get the memo that…
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Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Report Flight: VS023 Aircraft Type: A340-600 Class: Upper Class (Premium Business Class) Route: LHR – LAX Date: 02nd November 2012 Best for: Someone at home on the red-carpet… or an extra from ‘Made in Chelsea’. Most likely to sit next to: Fashion designers, Graphic Designers, Fergie and anyone with a second home in the Hollywood hills. Business…
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Virgin Atlantic have now finished their £100million upgrade of their Upper Class Experience, with the launch of their final renovation of the clubhouses, the Newark Lounge. Pieced together by the same creatives, Slade Architecture, that made the JFK Clubhouse, which ranked Number 2 in our Top 10 Lounges 2012, this clubhouse is leaps and bounds…
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The Delta website has always been better in many ways from its competitors, such as American or United. They have offered a clean contemporary look and design to their site for a while, and this reincarnation is no different. We have to say, it’s a truly good look to the site, which isn’t just skin…
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This 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…
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TAM 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…
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After the super-successful safety video viral that is going around the net right now, we take a look at the making of the safety video for Air New Zealand‘s latest 777 in-flight announcement. Produced by Weta NZ the same people that brought Gollum to Wellington Airport, ‘An Unexpected Briefing’ – inspired by the upcoming fantasy adventure…
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Air New Zealand rarely take their safety videos seriously. With most of them becoming viral hits on YouTube. From disco work-outs to naked cabin crew, the airline has had it all. They are also quick to get on the Middle Earth PR campaign that’s sweeping New Zealand leading up to the release of The Hobbit.…
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So Royal Brunei Airlines might be an airline you’ve heard of if you’ve been trying to get a cheap ticket on the ‘Kangaroo route’ (Australia to Europe) as they often offer cheaper fares than some counterparts. However, not many people know about it’s image. It seems Royal Brunei have leapt into the 21st Century with…
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No.1 Traveller, which has been running for over 6 years now launches it’s brand new lounge tomorrow as we mentioned back in July. Opening 31st October, this is no scary affair. A wonderfully appointed 4,500 sq.ft lounge, as designed by Inside Out Architecture is exactly what the expanding-and-dramatically-improving Birmingham Airport needs. A double story lounge,…
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By Raymond Kollau, airlinetrends.com Cathay Pacific has unveiled its new amenity kits for Premium Economy Class passengers which feature exclusive designs by home-grown Hong Kong brand G.O.D. (which stands for Goods of Desire). Cathay says its design collaboration with G.O.D. took inspiration from the “vibrant culture of Hong Kong, where East meets West and age-old traditions blend with…
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Finnair‘s inflight product has always been efficient, clean and simple, perhaps seen by most as more ‘bland’ than ‘brand’. However, they have recently launched a brand new partnership with Finnish designer Marimekko to provide them with new table-wear and fabrics for their airline. Marimekko’s simple and elegant retro prints are all about great splashes of colour and…
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Virgin Atlantic won Best Airline Website at the Travolution awards this week, at a ceremony hosted in London. Virgin Atlantic is boasting a 15 per cent improvement in engagement of the UK homepage, with numbers of customers checking their flights increasing by 54 per cent and people checking out what Virgin Atlantic is about jumping…
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Next year will see the demise of the almost 19 hour flight that connects Singapore to Newark, New York as flown by Singapore Airlines A340-500 series aircraft. It’s not that the route isn’t doing well, it’s because Singapore are trading in their ageing models to be used against the purchase of 5 new A380’s and…
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Whilst there hasn’t been any real announcement of their product launch for the 777, here is a video on their YouTube channel of the interior of their new aircraft, joining their fleet in 2013. Whilst there is no sound, it’s easy to work your way through their 3 classes, whilst none of these products are…
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Whilst it is perhaps best for you to make up your own mind on British Airways new commercial, hitting UK screens today, this 30 second advert feels a little cheap as far as brand positioning goes. The airline over the Olympics has produced some great adverts, and has been very clever in its marketing strategy in 2012.…
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Norway’s Kristiansand might only have a population of 82,000 at last count, but a local Ice-cream businessman believes that the town needs it’s own airline. Not only that, but he’s willing to start the airline up himself. Now just to clarify, ‘Virtual’ airlines aren’t ones that you’ll find on flight-sim, but instead business and brand…
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There has been much in the way of rumor-mongering going on throughout the internet of American’s first 777-300ER’s paint scheme, as caught on camera by Russell Hill recently at Boeing’s Paine Field plant. What is visible on American’s registered (but not yet complete) aircraft, is an apparent solution to the new composite bodies that modern airliners…
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Air 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…
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For those who are regular visitors to my site may notice a few recent changes, from a new website address ‘thedesignair.net‘ to more Top 10 lists and recently added Trip Reports. This is all part of a campaign to expand and develop the site further to offer you more editorial, more competitions and more interviews with…
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Now I have a feeling this is going to be a “Marmite/Vegimite” of liveries. You are either going to love it, or hate it. But Fiji Airways rebranding gets a big thumbs up from TheDesignAir. When first mentioned on TheDesignAir we highlighted the fact that Fiji was going back to it’s roots with it’s new name.…
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Now, if you have travelled on Brussels Airlines in business class recently, or one of Delta’s, or even Swiss for that matter, this wouldn’t come as news to you. As this seat is very similar to those offered by these other carriers. This new seating arrangement offered by Austrian Airlines, whilst saving space, gives everyone…
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