This month we delve into that quiet and revered airport sanctuary! TheDesignAir once again, with strategic print partner Airways magazine bring you the very best Top 10 Airport Lounges in the world 2015. As well as appearing online, they will appear in print in every monthly glossy issue of Airways magazine, available around the world. We are impressed with the…
Read MoreHeathrow Airport Opens Two New Arrivals Lounges
It’s your lucky day if you are arriving into Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 2 and 3. The airport, which is still one of the busiest in the world, has been overhauled over the past few years to keep up with demand and refresh their international image. Delta Arrivals Lounge LHR Terminal 3 Whilst Terminal 3 already…
Read MoreChina Airlines New Lounge Strengthens New ‘Designer’ Airline Status
So you may have guessed we’ve been travelling recently with China Airlines, and for good reason. The Airline’s NextGen program to reinject life into the quieter of the Asian airlines has been nothing short of impressive. The latest element to join this facelift, is the new lounge in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 1, situated where…
Read MoreKLM 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…
Read MoreLATAM Pack A Punch With New Sao Paulo Lounge
LAN and TAM announced today the opening of their impressive and striking new VIP lounge, at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport. The new lounge is the largest in Latin America, spanning over a fairly massive 1,800 square metres. We love the wallpaper-esque style injected into the space, really showcasing the very best in South America architecture and design. Located on…
Read MoreTRIP REPORT: China Airlines 777-300ER Business Class November 2014
Flight: CI791 Aircraft Type: B777-300ER Class: Premium Business Class Route: TPE-HAN Date: November 2014 http://www.china-airlines.com Best for: One stop travellers connecting from Asia to the US in need of connectivity and comfort. Most likely to sit next to: Quiet business professionals. Business or pleasure: This airline is built for business. Great schedules, frequent services, good connections and wifi onboard, means for a logical…
Read MorePriestmangoode Get Us Excited About E-Jets
Farnborough has already brought us our first bit of exciting design news – and we like what we see when it comes to Embraer’s E2! The new single aisle cabin designed by world-renowned design studio Priestmangoode for Embraer was unveiled today with a full size mock up at the world famous air show. The designs…
Read MoreMassimo Vignelli 1931-2014
Sadly, 27th May 2014, graphic design legend Massimo Vignelli passed away at the age of 83. The Italian born designer is most famous for his work designing the New York Subway map & signage as well as the graphic design of the infamous American Airlines identity that only until recently was one of the most iconic aircraft liveries…
Read MoreANA Introduces New Prabal Gurung Uniforms
We love ANA and their constant reinvention of their inflight product. The latest news, of the unveiling of their new flight attendant and customer service uniforms, is a welcome sight. Created by New York fashion designer Prabal Gurung, whose designs have been worn by First Lady Michelle Obama, the Duchess of Cambridge and Lady Gaga, the uniforms reflect…
Read More‘Ohana By Hawaiian Now Painted
Our friends at Hawaiian have just released a video time-lapse of the painting of their very first ATR. Whilst we announced this a while ago, secretly we’ve been waiting for the chance to see this livery for real. The new aircraft are absolutely stunning and are yet another winning livery for the pacific –…
Read MoreFiji Airways Announce New Regional Brand ‘Fiji Link’
Our good friends at Fiji Airways, winner of the best livery 2013 in our Top 10 Liveries have now extended their brand to the domestic and regional carrier Pacific Sun. Pacific Sun, since the new re-branding of Fiji’s International airline, has been at odds with the earthy colours and sophisticated cabins, although obviously the friendly and…
Read MoreTheDesignAir’s Top 10 Airline Lounges 2013
This year there have been many new lounges appearing around the world. Each offering a unique level of luxury and identity that has meant a broad and interesting collection of spaces in a variety of spaces. Excellent spaces that didn’t make the list, but should still be commended, include Virgin America’s ‘The Loft‘ in LAX,…
Read MoreHot Hotel: Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives
Our newest writer to join TheDesignAir, Mel Kirk, über-successful blogger and owner of Tribal Media, has taken a trip that everyone in our office is green with envy of. With deep jealousy, we introduce you to her experience of one of our Hot Hotels, joining our very limited edition of hotels to take notice of…
Read MoreIberia Launch New Brand Logo & Livery
Iberia, as we announced a few months back, has been toying with the idea of a new logo for a while, accidentally letting it slip on the nacelle of one of their airbus fleet, which generated a buzz on the net of the future look and feel. The new logo, which will feature first on…
Read MoreFlying with JetBlue Mint Doesn’t Need To Cost A Mint
JetBlue have announced the new price point for flying with the only private ‘suite’ between West-East Coast flights; Los Angeles and New York and San Francisco and New York. Starting at a mind bending $499 one way they have managed to surpass our expectations yet again with the costs being yet another reason to fly…
Read MoreWith Qantas Bringing Back Aboriginal Art, We Take A Look At Unique Liveries
Our friends Australian Business Traveller announced on their site today that Qantas is bringing another of it’s iconic Aboriginal ‘DreamTime’ Jets online. The airline says its new Boeing 737-800 will feature the work of a well-known (but as yet un-named) West Australian indigenous artist, and will be painted in its Dreamtime colours at Boeing’s factory in Seattle…
Read MoreAir France Make Subtle Differences To Try And Make A Big Difference
Air France has made a “Best&Beyond” promise to change it’s ways recently, shaking off some of the history it has steeped up over the years, and add a more contemporary ‘luxury’ feel to the airline. The French legacy carrier, like Lufthansa and British Airways, is fast becoming another bastion of European ‘luxury refined’ travel. Each…
Read MoreCathay Pacific Revamp Their Award Winning First Class
Cathay Pacific have recently been injecting time and effort into ensuring their cabin products stay at the forefront of people’s minds. The award winning first class suite, first seen onboard in 2007 wasn’t in need of a redesign, instead, a refresh was all that was needed to keep the cabin a premium product in almost…
Read MoreVirgin Atlantic Showcase New Uniforms By Westwood
Whilst Virgin Atlantic has been seen as a forward thinking leader in the airline field (although now with a wealth of other airlines also in the same field) it seems a nod to a bit of nostalgia is on the cards for their uniforms, which we announced a few months ago, are now designed by…
Read MoreSingapore Airlines Reinvent Pure Luxury
Singapore Airlines has been the epitome of luxury for many years now. Many airlines look to the airline, not only for the product they have onboard, but the way that Singapore Airlines effortlessly conveys luxury and sophistication. Singapore Airlines has not failed to deliver on their latest incarnation of products which will replace the current fleets…
Read MoreFiji Airways Dazzle With New Uniforms
Our friends, Fiji Airways, have announced the latest stage of their rebranding excercise, bringing back the original glamour and authentic of their previous incarnation of the airline. The carrier on Thursday 27th June, relaunched itself worldwide as Fiji Airways, retiring its ‘Air Pacific’ brand. The defining moment, was the reveal of the new uniforms, created by…
Read MoreAir New Zealand’s New Livery Shows Cultural Roots Are Alive In The Pacific
The livery Air New Zealand is the latest airline to revisit and refresh their livery, in a recent flood of new livery designs. Their new livery (as announced earlier today by our antipodean friends at Australian Business Traveller) follows their original idea to change to an all-black tail and typeface treatment, something that they originally…
Read MoreAlaska’s Spirit Of The Islands
Alaska Airlines this week revealed it’s latest unique livery for it’s fleet, designed by 17 year old Aaron Nee. The design was part of a competition run by the airline to create a livery that ‘honored the culture of the Aloha State’. Nee’s design was selected from among more than 2,700 submissions by students across the…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Top 10 Economy Classes Of 2013
We are pleased to announce our Top 10 economy classes for 2013. We have scoured the world for airlines that have really shown us something truly special. Whilst many airlines didn’t make the list, we’d like to state that generally over the past 12 months, we have seen airlines around the world innovate and renovate…
Read MoreAir Canada Rouge Launch Their Uber-Cool Uniforms
“I think that was Justin Timber-what’s-his-face serving me my Gin & Tonic?” I can imagine a few people in their ‘later years of life’ whispering to each other as they go on their annual holiday. Welcome to Air Canada Rouge’s new uniform. Following the trend of the capsule wardrobe that most North American Carriers seem…
Read MoreAir Canada Rouge Sneak Peek
A few months ago, we posted the artists impression for Air Canada’s new diffusion brand ‘rouge’ set for their leisure routes. The first plane has been painted and has just shown itself to the world in these glossy press pics. Whilst a shiny plane always looks great, we still can’t help but feel this brand…
Read MoreTaking A Peek Into Jakarta’s New Terminal 3
We love architects drawings, if we could live in the universe that architects create we would be in a much happier place. There is no exception here. Australian architects, Woodhead‘s vision for Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport Terminal 3 look slick and elegant. Penned in for launch in 2015, this new 380,000m square terminal is expected…
Read MoreTaking A Look At Batik Air’s Brand New Look
Now that Batik Air, Lion Air’s latest ‘Premium’ venture, has been flying for a few weeks, we thought it best to take some time to take a look at this new carrier and what you can expect. Firstly, Let’s talk interiors. The whole premise of the airline is to fly passengers around the Asia region…
Read MoreVirgin Atlantic To Celebrate With New Uniform Designer
Virgin Atlantic announced today they were going to launch a new uniform for the 7,500 staff that wear the Virgin brand, designed by British designer Dame Vivienne Westwood. The collaboration between the two British brands is a long-term partnership which will see a total re-design of the uniform across all areas. With original design and sustainability…
Read MoreGaruda Indonesia Impress With New First Class Offering
Garuda Indonesia has had a resurgence in the past few years, and as part of their ‘Quantum Leap’ program announced last year, Garuda have re-launched both their first class product (whilst other carriers continue to remove their products) and ‘executive’ business class. Now available to purchase on their new 777 fleet, the product is of…
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