Flight: WY103 Aircraft Type: 787-9 Class: Business Class Route: MCT-LHR Date: March 2019 http://www.omanair.com After our outbound trip in Oman Air’s outstanding First Class product, it was time to return home and give the equally impressive Business Class a run for its money. While the Apex Suite is a seasoned favourite for many travellers, it is interesting to see how this…
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Etihad Airways is now the first airline in the region to have operated a flight without any single-use plastics on board, in a bid to raise awareness of the effects of plastic pollution. Flight EY484 departed Abu Dhabi on 21 April, landing in Brisbane on 22 April, also known as Earth Day. H.H. Sheikh Theyab…
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Qatar Airways has launched its latest range of First Class and Business Class amenity kits. Created by BRIC’s, the new amenity kits will be distributed to passengers in on long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights. The new collection of BRIC’s amenity kits includes designs and contents created for both male and female passengers and feature the same…
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Now celebrating it’s one year Anniversary, the Kempinski Hotel in Muscat is one of the hottest opening’s in Oman’s capital city, Muscat. Situated in the prestigious Al Mouj district, just a short drive from the airport, it’s slightly away from the central Muscat area but benefits from a quiet beach, nearby marina and majestic views…
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Air France has just revealed a new business class menu by a French chef with no less than 3 Michelin stars. From April to June 2019, the famous French chef Arnaud Lallement will be offering new gourmet dishes exclusively designed for Air France’s Business class cabins. For just three months starting today, the company has…
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Flight: WY102 Aircraft Type: 787-9 Class: First Class Route: LHR-MCT Date: March 2019 http://www.omanair.com Oman Air has long been on our radar to offer a trip report. Its careful positioning as a boutique carrier based in the Middle East doesn’t mean it is one of the big and bold ME3, but it is certainly pushing the envelope when it comes…
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Finnair is moving away from its more clinical approach to Finnish design and adding depth, texture and warmth with new soft products to bring a new layer of richness and comfort. Timed to coincide with the launch of its new service between Helsinki and Los Angeles on March 31st, Finnair has celebrated its long-standing relationship…
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Star Alliance customers travelling from Amsterdam Schiphol can look forward to a new lounge experience, competing with the new KLM Crown Lounge that is still in development. The new Star Alliance Lounge will welcome eligible First and Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold Card holders as well as eligible paid lounge members of the…
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Qantas is using virtual reality in the development of its new First Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport, which is set to open at the end of 2019. Industrial designer David Caon and his team have created an immersive virtual reality representation of the design concept, providing a better way for Qantas to preview and fine…
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American Airlines has just introduced a new wave of amenity kits for passengers in its International First & Business, Transcon First & Business and International Premium Economy cabins. As with most airlines, American has teamed up with leading up-and-coming lifestyle and skincare brands. Coming on line mid February, the kits are designed in collaboration with This…
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There are few airports in the world that are a sheer joy to fly from, but this new small and perfectly formed terminal could be a nirvana for passengers travelling to and from the greater Seattle area when it commences its first flights, currently scheduled for 11th February 2019. Based in Seattle’s Paine Field airport,…
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It’s a phrase that some airlines build their business model and service proposition on, but the ‘Boutique’ airline is a seemingly new airline type that will no doubt turn our heads a little more often than legacy carriers, but why is that? While La Compagnie has already built the strap-line ‘Boutique Airline’ into their marketing,…
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Flight: GF2 Aircraft Type: 787-9 Class: Business Class (Flacon Gold) Route: LHR-BAH Date: October 2018 http://www.gulfair.com Gulf Air used to be one of the leading carriers in the Gulf region, however, bold upstarts like Emirates quickly stole the crown, with heavy investment in new aircraft and a fairly courageous growth plan, leaving Gulf Air with a lacklustre, dated product that…
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Today saw the launch of Air France’s new Economy and Premium Economy cabins, creating a ‘new’ travel experience on board its 15 Airbus A330s which will be refitted as from January 2019. We’ve always found Air France to offer a contemporary economy cabin product, however the traditional sea of blue and cream didn’t inject a sense…
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Emirates has once again kept itself ahead of the curve by refreshing its premium offering with brand new luxury products in their First and Business Classes. The new products stem from collaborations with Byredo skincare, Bowers & Wilkins and no surprises that Emirates’ longstanding partnership with Bulgari continues, now with refreshed amenity kits. For First…
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We took some time out of Singapore Airlines VP of Product Innovation’s day to explore what the A350-900ULR and their new business class means for an airline that continues to innovate. Yung Han Ng explains how the airline puts the passenger experience first, and instead of looking to competitors, looks to their own product, and…
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Plaza Premium certainly knows how to celebrate its 20th anniversary in style. The pay-for-lounge company has launched a brand new lounge concept. Plaza Premium First is the group’s step above their existing lounge offerings, with a lounge concept that is more akin to traditional First Class lounges. The launch lounge, designed by award-winning Hong Konger Kinney…
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Etihad Airways has been realigning itself to try and shake off a rather expensive partnership with the likes of Air Berlin and Alitalia recently, so a new partnership to bolster the passenger experience, and with Acqua Di Parma no less, is most certainly welcome. Unlike other carriers, who have different partners depending on the class…
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The opening of Muscat’s new airport terminal has given Oman Air the chance to completely reimagine its ground product. The new passenger terminal building has already won awards, and by the look of the lounge, it might be winning some awards of its own. The interiors of the lounges are just simply stunning. The design has…
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Emirates has seen the successful launch of its new route to Santiago de Chile, Chile, a mammoth 20+ hour trip from its home hub in Dubai. Luckily the airline gives passengers a chance to stretch their legs in Sao Paulo, where the airline makes a stop over in both directions. Luckily the route is getting…
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Philippine Airlines has opened a small, yet perfectly formed new lounge in Cebu’s new Terminal 2 which itself, only opened a few weeks ago. The lounge, designed by GRiT Design Studio and brought to life by Atelier Almario showcases a new design direction for the carrier, with a homely, warm and inviting space, following the…
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Flight: TK15 Aircraft Type: 777-300ER Class: Business Class Route: IST-GRU Date: May 2018 http://www.turkishairlines.com Turkish Airlines impressed TheDesignAir last year with a trip on the same route. With the impending opening of the New Istanbul Airport this year, along with new transit services such as the Bosphorus Experience the airline is continuing to evolve and improve, but we wanted to see…
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So we don’t usually offer updates on hotels, but the new ‘Out Of The Blue’ jetty structure at Soneva Fushi, Maldives is so impressive, it’s almost like having a new hotel to write about. The two-storey overwater structure, (not as large as the one at Soneva Jani – but just as impressive) houses five brand new…
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Turkish Airlines, like many airlines (like TAP or Qatar Airways) over a stop-over for transiting passengers to experience the city, but Turkish Airlines have taken this experience one further. Not only can passengers enjoy a two night free stay in Istanbul (for business class passengers) but those with more than just a few hours to…
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Starting Next Monday, April 30, customers booked in United Polaris – the airline’s name for international business class – will be able to relax and dine prior to their travels or refresh upon arrival in the new United Polaris lounge at San Francisco International Airport conveniently located in the International Terminal near Gate G92. The lounge,…
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This week, Etihad Airways launched its new Emirati designed loungewear collection available to First Class and The Residence guests. Revealed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the stylish new line by Emirati brand A Friend of Mine by Xpoze was received by a star-studded ‘Night at the Museum’ event. The night was jointly hosted by the airline and influential…
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Swiss opened the doors today to its stunning new First Class ‘Lounge A’ in Zurich. Designed as part of a curb-to-aircraft experience, the 650-square-metre lounge features check-in facilities, its own security checkpoint, an à la carte restaurant and a barista bar serving a wide range of Swiss grappas and further fruit brandies. As part of…
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Virgin Atlantic has recently partnered with Onefinestay to create a limited edition pop-up boutique bedroom in the corner of its award-winning Clubhouse in Heathrow Airport. Partnering with the New York based company, the British airline has reinforced its deep East Coast roots by bridging the pond with a US based partner. Available for rental through…
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Flight: KA361 Aircraft Type: A330-300 Class: Business Class Route: DPS-HKG Date: November 2017 http://www.cathapacific.com We are big fans of Cathay Pacific at TheDesignAir, that’s no real secret. We love the carriers ground product, with wealth of stylish lounges and super easy to navigate home base of Hong Kong International Airport, but Cathay Dragon, the now-aligned sister carrier always seemed in…
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Starting December 1st Emirates will introduce a refreshed interior across its 777 fleet with the carriers updated “light and modern” colour scheme featuring refined textured panels, as well as new lighting and design accents. At the heart of the refresh is the long-awaited First Class product. As an industry first, the airline has adopted floor to ceiling…
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