MEA receives new A321neo with new interiors and livery

MEA doesn’t often feature on TheDesignAir, as it has slipped under the radar for a while with its older fleet and less-than-design approach to aviation. However it seems the airline has turned a corner and is featuring firmly on our radar now. While not as ‘bells and whistles’ as many other Middle Eastern carriers, it…

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Emirates latest to invest in a measured design approach to hygiene

Emirates has taken a very pragmatic approach to hygiene in – perhaps – the most advanced myriad of sanitisation products to ensure a safer journey without impacting the passenger experience in a way so far removed from what we were once used to. The airline’s model shows potential blueprints for a mid-term approach to travelling…

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About face! Why British Airways might need to accelerate its Business Class retrofit

There’s quite a lot of commentary on Covid-19 right now, and the research is constantly evolving. There’s already some innovative designs on the drawing board for helping with the perception of social distancing, including Factorydesign’s Isolation Kit and Aviointeriors’ Janus seat concept. While Factorydesign’s concept actually is quite smart and has a post Covid-19 application,…

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Air France adds new Premium Economy amenity kit, improving collection

This month sees Air France launch a new amenity kit with a brand new design for passengers travelling in its long-haul Premium Economy cabin. The airline regularly updates their kits, and this time they’ve decided to reflect the colder months across the Northern hemisphere right now, wrapping them up in a “padded” texture. This latest…

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From cushions to cocktails, British Airways adds yet more, smaller customer improvements

This week saw British Airways launch new products for those in the front and the back of the plane. For those in then pointy end, flying from San Francisco and Newark can now enjoy made-to-order cocktails, in just 45 seconds thanks to an automated cocktail maker. Now, while BA doesn’t offer Bartenders in the same…

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Delta’s A330-900neos bring familiar Delta One product to Business Class, and World’s first on an A330 to offer fully enclosed suites

Delta, who recently took a large stake in LATAM has also this summer launched its A330-900neo interiors. This means that now there is a similar all-aisle access business class product on certain LATAM and Delta flights, although Delta, which is rolling out doors across its new Delta One products, might be getting an additional edge.…

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Acumen helps deliver JetBlue’s new A321neo

Last week saw JetBlue, alongside its official design partner, Acumen Design Associates, unveil the latest cabin interior design for the airline’s new A321neo aircraft. The aircraft is already servicing the New York JFK to Fort Lauderdale route and will eventually serve two new international routes for JetBlue: New York JFK to Guayaquil, Ecuador, and New…

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Air Seychelles introduces new uniforms and new cabin for A320neo aircraft, brought to life by Lift

In recent years Air Seychelles has reconfigured its route network and fleet opting for narrow-body aircraft over their long haul routes, relying on their strategic partnership with Etihad to feed the traffic to their tropical paradise home. With this repositioning comes a new breed of aircraft for the carrier, the A320neo which will operate the…

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British Airways receives its first A350. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?

Today saw the official arrival of the British Airways A350. The aircraft which was meant to arrive on Friday was delayed due to the air traffic control and weather issues at Heathrow. However, today saw no sign of either of those. Under perfectly blue skies, British Airways wheeled out the new aircraft which in reality arrived…

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ANA Launch Revamped Seats On Domestic Flights

ANA is in the process of making a series of comprehensive changes to the seats on domestic and international aircraft as part of its strategy to remain at the forefront of hospitality and passenger comfort for every type of flyer. The renovations will improve the Economy Class product while also increasing the number of Premium…

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The Rise Of A New Class, ‘Business Suites’, But Will It See The Death Of First Class?

Doors. This is where it all starts. Over the past few years, the differences between First Class and Business Class hard-products have become fewer and farther between. We’re now in an era where British Airways new Business Class product offers equal space and more privacy than its older First Class product. Airlines such as Qatar…

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HNA Launches New ‘Dream Feather’ Brand Concept, Designed By Priestmangoode

  HNA is the latest contemporary airline to bring both brand image and passenger experience inline with a holistic approach designed by UK-based company PriestmanGoode. For over two years the design studio was brought in ‘to create designs that reflect a sense of place and appeal to international passengers’. Entitled ‘Dream Feather’ the concept is…

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British Airways New Business Class Suite Product Leaves Us Feeling Mixed Emotions

Unless you have been living under a rock today you will already have seen the new business class product for British Airways, dubbed the ‘Club Suite.’ The new suite brings a range of improvements to the passenger experience including all-aisle access, more storage, larger IFE screens and even doors, offering even more privacy, similar to…

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British Airways Upgrades First Class With New Amenities And Dining

While British Airways has invested heavily in to its Club World, including new bedding and dining, its very top cabin class was left at the wayside, meaning that in some respects, the Club World product out-delivered the carrier’s flagship product. However, all that is apparently set to change as British Airways’ First cabin undergoes a…

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Toilet Talk. Is This The Future Of B777 Restrooms?

Believe it or not, the 777 toilet may not be one of the most talked about parts of the passenger experience, but it hasn’t really changed since the 777 came to service decades ago. So step ahead 24 years and it’s about time that a company is offering a brand new concept to the aircraft’s…

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Neutral Digital Launches Cathay Pacific VR Experience Showcasing Enhanced Features

October saw the launch of Neutral Digital’s latest VR experience, showcasing Cathay Pacific’s new A350 cabin, including their economy, premium economy and business class cabins. Cathay Pacific and Neutral Digital collaborated to design and implement a VR storyboard that would show the prospective passenger visual and interactive highlights beginning with the livery, and onto the…

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Could Virtual Reality Really Help Airline Marketing? Just Ask Neutral Digital

Stepping in to Neutral Digital’s Shoreditch studio in London, there is something daunting about being greeted by an isolated sole chair surrounded by some simple technology and a giant screen. But the warmth of the greeting from Sergio Irigoyen and Dan Bambridge alleviate any concerns. After all, I’m about to experience one of the most state-of-the-art…

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Could Airbus And Zodiac Aerospace Reinvent The Cargo Hold?

Most people probably remember when Airbus first launched their A380, there was talk about the cargo area being used as an onboard lounge, retail unit or even a restaurant for passengers. Naturally, like many things in aviation, these ideas gradually disappeared and practicality took over. Gone the ideas of having a large retail unit, when…

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British Airways New Economy And Premium Economy Seats Distract Passengers With Bigger IFE Screens

Yes, these sparkly new seats are on British Airways, in fact they are already being rolled out on the carrier’s ‘sunshine routes’ from their hub in Gatwick. Retrofitting their fleet of 777s means they are removing some of their business class cabin to fit a larger World Traveller Plus cabin and even sneak in a…

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Why The Battle For First Class Will Be Waged On The Ground

This year will see a wave of business class seats that resemble First Class more than ever before. Qatar Airways is introducing the new QSuite this month, Delta is introducing their new private business class suites and United has already rolled out their new business class product featuring all aisle access and fully flat seats.…

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Iberia Reveal New Premium Cabin Economy In Time For The Summer

Yesterday saw the reveal of Iberia’s first A340-600 retrofitted with a brand new premium economy cabin. Announced back in October last year, the new cabin brought it in line with their fellow IAG partner British Airways, now offering three similar cabins instead of just two. Starting in May, the new cabins will be found on flight…

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A Taste Of What Concorde Would Have Looked Like Today. But, It May Actually Still Happen.

The future is a little closer this month, with Boom taking a leap forward and presenting their XB-1 1/3rd-scale ‘little brother’ version of the ideal next generation supersonic passenger jet. ‘Baby Boom’ as it has been dubbed, may not be taking flight until next year, but it will pave the way for the new Concorde of the…

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A Deeper Look Inside Aeromexico’s Dreamliner

TheDesignAir 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…

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Iberia’s New Premium Economy Signals Closer Product Alignment At IAG

This week saw the announcement of Iberia’s new premium economy product that will be rolled out across 37 of the carrier’s long-haul fleet. Iberia will be the 7th oneworld carrier to introduce a real ‘premium’ economy product, and will mean the carrier can offer a more aligned product with sister carrier British Airways. There is…

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JPA and Jamco Release The Latest Herringbone Seat

It’s always good to see a new herringbone seat enter the market, and yet most passengers may not even know the array of seats on offer. The wealth of herringbone seat designs have a myriad of differences. Designed by London based JPA Design and Jamco, these brand new seat designs (first seen at AIX in Hamburg this…

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Exclusive: We Talk To The Designers Behind SIA’s New Premium Economy

London based JPA Design has had a long working history with Singapore Airlines, starting back in 1998 when they first launched the 747 first class suite. Since then the creative studio has tackled a variety of cabin designs for one of the world’s leading airlines, including the 777 and first ever production business class seat for SIA’s A380.…

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TAM Accidentally Hint At Their New 777 Business Class Cabin

As spotted by one of our avid followers with a keen eye (thank you), TAM have revealed their 777 business class cabin refresh (above), something they announced they were going to do late last year. On their website there is an image of an improved 777 business class cabin, with an interior that matches their 787…

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TRIP REPORT: Air France B777-300 Business Class November 2014

Flight: AF0009 Aircraft Type: B777-300 (Four Class version) Class: Business Class  Route: JFK-CDG Flight time: 6:07 Seat: 4L Date: November 2014 http://www.airfrance.com Best for: Anyone with a modicum of style, looking for good connections around the world. The crowd: This carrier oozes Parisian chic. Luxury clothing mandatory. Business or pleasure: This carrier is all about both, excellent and opulent food matched with excellent flight…

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TRIP REPORT: Hawaiian Airlines A330-200 Business Class November 2014

Flight: HA450 Aircraft Type: A330-200 Class: Business Class (International) Route: KIX-HNL Flight time: 7:03 Seat: 3C Date: November 2014 http://www.hawaiianairlines.com Best for: Hawaiian based residents, who use Hawaiian regularly. The crowd: A mix of young Japanese trendsetters and families. Business or pleasure: Hawaii is a big market for the Japanese, with limited connectivity and recliner seats, this is for those headed away on pleasure.…

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KLM Introduce Brand New 777 Economy Interiors

KLM in the light of the recent departure of their last MD-11, have announced a further modernisation of their fleet. The new 777-200 economy cabin has been revealed, as designed by Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, who also designed their new World Business Class cabin. Whilst the airline still offers only a two class cabin across…

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