Etihad Airlines, under Chief Commercial Officer Arik De, embraces its underdog status while focusing on innovation in premium travel. Launching the world’s first International First Class Suite on a narrowbody A321LR, the airline aims to refine its offerings. With significant investments, Etihad is poised to redefine luxury in air travel, enhancing passenger experience across various classes.
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Etihad Airways is one of the few airlines that allows pre-clearance into the US, meaning that passengers arrive in the US without having to face lengthy queues at immigration. However, this has always meant that prior to departure from Abu Dhabi, passengers have had to face a smaller queue to pass immigration within the airport.…
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There’s been a lot of hype and speculation over Emirates’ 777 interiors, and well the time has finally arrived for us to be wowed by the carrier’s evolution (not revolution) of its tired 777 product that has been long overshadowed by the A380 cabins, which became the aircraft of choice – where possible – for…
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Over the decades, airlines across the globe have approached fashion designers to add a bit of creative flair into their brand. So it’s no surprise that start-up Riyadh Air –which plans on setting the bar high – has searched for a couturier to help create the carrier’s very first uniform. And in reality it didn’t…
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A few months ago, I covered the new Riyadh Air livery, and how that in principal it’s one of the most elegant new liveries in the skies, but it the logotype on the fuselage was a little too dominant for an elegant, premium carrier. Well, it seems like they’ve listened, as not only their new…
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Now those with a good memory will notice that the announcement of Saudia’s new brand feels a little bit familiar. That’s for good reason. Saudia’s latest livery is actually a previous incarnation of the brand image from the 1980s. A time when futurism was based on a mix between brutalism and pixelated screen technology, which…
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Riyadh Air, the new Saudi Arabian airline, headed up by veteran CEO Tony Douglas has just unveiled the first of two liveries that will adorn the airline’s fleet on Instagram earlier today. The airline has certainly decided to stand out with a bold, metallic purple look that will draw attention as it touches down to…
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At the Arabian Travel Market at the end of May, flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, unveiled its latest premium business class seat, offering passengers added comfort, privacy and an exceptional onboard experience. It’s actually the third business class seat revealed by the carrier in almost as many years which vary from staggered recliner seats to fully…
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We’ve been drowning in a sea of short-term hygiene messages across the last year as airlines have rapidly ‘masked up’ in order to win over what little passenger volume there has been. Today’s passengers have been assaulted by marketing imagery of planes being scrubbed within an inch of their life, crew in body suits and…
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Gulf Air today moved its operations to the brand new terminal in Bahrain’s International Airport in Manama. The new terminal couldn’t be more different than its predecessor, as it is awash with light thanks to its huge picture windows and high ceilings. With the new terminal, comes new ground experiences for passengers, including brand new…
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As travel starts to comeback to the UAE, Sharjah’s airport has opened its newly designed Premium Lounge, which will cater to all passengers either with a suitable lounge programme, or by payment on entry. The lounge is just one element in a 4,000 square metre extension. The extensive refurbishment of the lounge features a paired…
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2020 has seen the rule book thrown out of the window. Carriers that have adapted quickly will see the largest market share in 2021. While many airlines continue to struggle just to survive day-to-day, some have taken this as an opportunity to level the playing field. While clear regional battles are at play across Asia,…
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When it comes to personal hygiene kits, Etihad is one of the first airlines to offer a unique, upgraded proposition for its First and Business Class guests, which also includes a snood-style face mask for use throughout their journey and beyond. The soft reusable snood has been treated with MicrobeBARRIER™ fabric treatment, a broad spectrum antimicrobial…
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Amaala, a luxurious destination located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, has just unveiled plans for a new international airport, with a design inspired by the optical illusion of a desert mirage which will act as a striking entry point to many International visitors. There’s good reason the terminal might look somewhat familiar, it’s been imagined…
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TheDesignAir is thrilled to announce the 2019 award winners as voted for by our esteemed judging panel and our readers. Year after year, we see more improvements and enhancements across the passenger experience, from narrow to wide bodies to lounges and airports around the globe. We showcase the 2019 winners here.
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TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2019 and just like last couple of years, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public. The voting is now closed! Now is your chance to pick from our shortlisted categories for Best Design Airline, by region, across the globe. All it takes…
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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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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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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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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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We recently showcased Gulf Air’s striking new brand image. Brought to life by design studio Tangerine and brand consultants Saffron, the new image for the carrier is certainly contemporary, encapsulating the very best of aviation design trends. Mixing heritage, sense of locale, modernity and simplicity are a sure fire recipe for a long-life brand that…
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Ahead of the airline’s new lounge opening, Oman Air has revealed the designs for its new 787-9 interiors, which include a new fully private First Class Suite design for its most prestigious passengers. Instead of the airline’s current Business and economy layout for their 787-9’s these new suites will occupy part of the front section…
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Gulf Air, once the cream of the crop in the Middle East, sadly started to slip against the backdrop of the now globally-famous ‘ME Three’. Ageing hard products and a limited route network meant the carrier was very rarely the top of passengers preferences. However, things might be about to change. Gone the heavy golden…
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Metro carrier flydubai has just rolled out a new uniform after nine years of its initial navy and sand coloured uniform design. The new design will be worn by more than 2,500 staff including pilots, cabin crew, ground crew, training, engineering and maintenance staff. The roll out coincides with the introduction of the airline’s first…
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Emirates has always been a luxurious airline, and their first class is amongst one of the best in the skies, so no surprise that they have decided to include the award winning first class suite in their new executive jet. Many airlines have taken to providing an executive jet service, from Qatar Airways to Lufthansa,…
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Etihad, arguably one of the world’s finest airlines are following the current trend of creating inspirational campaigns to generate excitement about travelling and impart a sense of warmth when discovering the rest of the world. Their subtle take on brand association fits with BA‘s, Virgin’s or even Emirates latest campaigns, which are less about hard…
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Dining: Qatar Airways has yet again, gone above and beyond to try and create a truly unique product to compete with it’s slightly larger Middle Eastern counterparts. Four International chefs have been drafted in to enhance and develop their First Class and Business Class menu offerings flying from Doha in Qatar. The award-winning Chef Ramzi Choueiri,…
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Qatar Airways, a 5 star airline that truly deserves its airline ranking, seems to be really pushing forward with an aggressive expansion plan. Today, May 2nd 2012, marks a USD$2billion investment from Qatar into the New Doha International Airport, as the country looks to expand the airport to cope with the constant increase in growth…
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The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has given the green light for contracts to be awarded for a brand new airport terminal at Abu Dhabi International airport. A statement said the council had approved the “awarding of contracts” for the long-awaited Dh25bn Midfield terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which would accommodate up to 27 million passengers a…
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