Plaza Premium New Rio Lounge Spearheads Wave Of New Pay-For Lounge Openings

The Olympics may now be over, but there’s still good reason to travel to Rio. Tom Jobim International Airport will now play host to three Plaza Premium Lounges in South Pier and Car Park Building of Terminal 2, welcoming all travellers regardless of their airline or travel class with a total of 570 comfortable seats. Plaza Premium…

Read More

GOL Lounge In Sao Paulo Guarulhos T2 Impresses With Designer Credentials

The first of three new GOL Lounges in Brazil has just opened in Guarulhos T2 showcasing the carrier’s new direction for their ground product. Available to all passengers on GOL as well as Air France, Delta and KLM codeshares flying from T2, the new lounge replaces the fairly depressing and basic previous incarnation. “The VIP lounge…

Read More

Los Angeles Is The Latest Etihad Lounge Addition

Opened yesterday, Etihad Airways‘ new First and Business Class Lounge within the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport is the latest addition to the airlines armada of designer lounges, following Abu Dhabi and Melbourne this year. The lounge services passengers flying on the EY170 from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi and beyond, a long-range…

Read More

Etihad’s New Abu Dhabi First Class Lounge Revealed

On Monday Etihad finally opened to the doors to its much anticipated First Class Lounge and Spa in Abu Dhabi’s International Airport Terminal 3. The new flagship First Class Lounge & Spa “showcases the airline’s commitment to providing unparalleled and aspirational hospitality experiences,” state the airline’s press release. The lounge follows the residential and hotel influenced-design that…

Read More

The Suite Kinshasa Opens Hot On The Heels Of Latest Brussels Lounge

The Democratic Republic of Congo may not be on every airline’s bucket list of lounge locations, but for Brussels Airlines, Kinshasa is a valuable route, and worthy of it’s first premium lounge offering outside of Brussels. Named ‘The Suite – Kinshasa’, after its recently opened namesake in Brussels, The Suite offers an intimate but well crafted lounge…

Read More

The Suite Joins The Loft At Brussels Airport

Here’s some more positive news for Brussels, after opening ‘The Loft’ in Brussels Airport’s Terminal A in 2014, Brussels Airlines has now also inaugurated a new lounge in Terminal B, called ‘The Suite’. This is excellent news for passengers who aren’t travelling within the Schengen zone. Compared to the previous B Pier lounge, The Suite is double…

Read More

New Cathay ‘The Pier’ Business Class Lounge Delights

Cathay Pacific opened its doors today to the first official visitors of their latest, and largest, lounge in Hong Kong; The New Business Class Lounge at The Pier. The Pier, which plays home to Cathay Pacific’s most recently refurbished First and Business Class lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, has been offering unparalleled levels of comfort and…

Read More

Virgin Australia’s Upgraded 777 Fleet Is ‘The Business’

Hot off the heels of their A330 refresh, Virgin Australia today unveiled its new International Business Class cabin, with the first of its refitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft now flying across the Pacific. This comes after their announcement of the refresh back in 2014. “The airline’s flagship Business Class product ‘The Business’, new Business Class Bar…

Read More

Etihad New Melbourne Lounge Hints At New Lounge Design Ethos

Monday saw the opening of Etihad Airways new Premium Lounge at Melbourne Airport, which comes to life just a couple of weeks ahead of the new A380 service between the city pair. Located in Terminal 2 adjacent to gate 10, the lounge will open approximately three hours prior to the departure of Etihad Airways twice daily Melbourne-Abu…

Read More

SkyTeam Launch Latest Designer Lounge In Dubai

This week saw the official opening of their latest designer lounge in Terminal 1 of Dubai International Airport, the first for SkyTeam in the Gulf region. Catering to Elite Plus, First and Business Class passengers of the ten SkyTeam airlines flying to the airport. The new space spans over 960 square metres and can seat up…

Read More

Cathay’s New Heathrow Lounge Will Feature Separate First and Business Class Spaces

In our exclusive interview with designer Ilse Crawford from StudioIlse, we reveal that the new London Heathrow Lounge will be the first redesigned lounge to feature both First Class and Business Class areas for passengers. The designer is the same creative force behind the new wave of Cathay Pacific lounges, including the Pier First Class Lounge and new…

Read More

British Airways Update T5A Galleries Lounge

British Airways have just refurbished the Club World Galleries South lounge in T5A, just a couple of weeks after they refurbished their First Lounge in T5. A new furniture layout has been created in the lounge to enhance individual seating and increase privacy through the use of screens and high backed chairs. As part of…

Read More

American Airlines Invests In Refreshed Lounges With Table Service Dining

Most people may not know, but the first Airline lounge was actually created by American Airlines back in 1939. Since then, lounges have come full circle to be some of the most opulent and premium branded spaces around the world. It’s no surprise then that the founder of the airside lounge has decided to invest…

Read More

British Airways Updates First Class Lounge At Heathrow

British Airways today announced the refurbishment to the airline’s First lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5 eligible to First customers and Gold Executive Club members. The announcement comes just weeks after the announcement of their new Singapore lounge design. The new interiors will include “new contemporary and stylish furniture throughout the lounge, plush new carpets, re-sanded, waxed…

Read More

SWISS Launch New Lounges And Show Off New 777

SWISS is the latest airline to take delivery of a brand new 777-300ER and yesterday they showed off the new aircraft to members of the media. Our reporter Sven Hennig was there to take a look at what we think is the latest ‘designer’ aircraft interior by London based Priestmangoode. In total, Swiss International Air Lines will…

Read More

Avianca Launch New Miami Lounge

Avianca this week announced the latest opening of their new lounge concept in Miami International Airport. Located in Terminal J near boarding gate 12B, the lounge offers its services to LifeMiles Élite Gold and Diamond members as well as Star Alliance Gold, Priority Pass cardholders or Business Class travelers and their guest. This is the 16th lounge…

Read More

British Airways New Concorde Bar Opens In Singapore, Designed By Honour

Today marks the launch of British Airways‘ brand new Concorde Bar in Singapore Changi airport Terminal 1. This marks the first in a series of luxury British Airways Concorde lounges opening across the world, designed by London based brand experience company Honour. The bar, named after the carriers original supersonic flagship aircraft, is exclusively available for BA’s…

Read More

New Pay For ‘Aspire Lounge’ in London Heathrow T5

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…

Read More

American Express ‘The Centurion’ Lounges Set To Impress

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…

Read More

Plaza Premium Bring New Lounge To T1 At Changi Airport

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…

Read More

Open Now, Cathay Pacific’s New Bangkok Lounge

Open today, Cathay Pacific passengers travelling out of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport are in for a treat. Located at Level 3 in the Concourse G Departure Hall, Cathay’s Bangkok lounge adopts the airline’s new lounge design template that has already been employed at Cathay Pacific lounges in Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Manila. Measuring in at 679…

Read More

Virgin Atlantic & Delta’s NY-LON Lounge Brings Their Signature Style To London’s O2

You 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 More

Plaza Premium Is Latest Lounge To Take On Heathrow

Good News for Heathrow Terminal 4 travellers. There’s another lounge in town, and this one is a Pay-for lounge, so anyone can get in. You may be forgiven thinking there was already a Plaza Premium lounge, but this latest haven is part of the company’s USD40 million global expansion plan and is actually its third lounge in London Heathrow. Unlike the departure lounge in T2,…

Read More

Cathay Roll Out Second Lounge In New Design Aesthetic In Manila

When we recently visited Cathay Pacific‘s new Tokyo Haneda Lounge, we were excited to announce the carrier was expanding the new aesthetic and product across a range of outstations. The latest lounge to join this exclusive list of designer spaces is found in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Not really being known for its amazing facilities, the…

Read More

Santiago Just Got On The Map. Because of LATAM’s New Lounge

We were lucky enough to get invited to LATAM’s inauguration of their brand new Santiago Lounge today. The largest lounge in South America (and the largest so far for LATAM) hasn’t failed to deliver on its promise with over 23,000sq feet of luxurious passenger comfort on offer. LATAM have left the best till last, with the…

Read More

TheDesignAir Exclusive Interview With Cathay’s Toby Smith

We’re sat in the busy ‘Bridge’ lounge in Hong Kong airport, surrounded by the hustle & bustle of the café area and the sound of Illy espressos being perfectly ground and poured by barista staff. The Bridge is one of six lounges in Hong Kong International Airport, and is one of the latest in the…

Read More

TheDesignAir’s Top 10 Airport Lounges 2015

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 More

Qantas Virtually Entertain Us

The future is here. Qantas has partnered with Samsung Electronics Australia to launch a futuristic trial entertainment service that uses Samsung virtual reality (VR) technology to give customers a spectacular three dimensional experience in a 360 degree style interactive format. Qantas’ clunky yet “Apple generation” stylish headsets will completely envelop customers in an immersive virtual world. Currently the entertainment features the sights and…

Read More

Heathrow 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 More

Taking A Look At Mumbai’s Beautiful T2 Lounge & Terminal

Opened Yesterday, Mumbai’s new Terminal 2 GVK Lounge drew our attention to a terminal we unforgivably had overlooked when it was opened earlier this year. We take a closer look at both lounge and its stunning architectural home. The GVK Lounge This opulent and breathtaking lounge is spread across an area of some 30,000 sq.…

Read More