TheDesignAir was created to provide an independent, ad-free platform for in-depth analysis of travel and design, distinguishing itself from typical aviation sites. Like every year I seek help to support this platform and ensure the platform remains distraction-free.
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We’re on the home stretch to 2026 already, can you believe it? 2025 is seeing a great resurgence in the use of the site, and i’m thrilled to see it! it’s great to see so many of you still engaging with the site. This year our YouTube – now in it’s 4th full year –…
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The aviation industry is increasingly adopting a generic concept of luxury, which leads to a loss of distinct airline identities. Airlines are urged to celebrate their unique characteristics and cultural roots rather than conforming to a uniform standard. Genuine luxury should evoke recognition and authenticity, creating memorable passenger experiences.
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Alaska Airlines has launched its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a new livery intended to reflect its global ambitions. However, the design draws comparisons to competitors and lacks distinctive branding, notably omitting the iconic Eskimo man face. Instead, it combines elements that other airlines offer, resulting in a muddled identity.
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As 2024 comes to a close, it’s great to see so many of you still engaging with the site, in fact, we’re getting more and more subscribers every year. This year our YouTube – now in it’s 3rd full year – celebrates its biggest year yet with more than 750k views and yet more ‘toilet…
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The biggest challenge facing the passenger experience market is trying to standout in a levelled playing field. Every airline can now purchase suites with doors, all-aisle-access is no longer a market leading position, and the leading inflight entertainment systems all offer basically the same interface. But there’s still a fierce battle to claim the throne…
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As we come up to awards season, we are about to announce this years nominees for some of the best advancements this year in cabin experience. We’ll be announcing the shortlist before the end of September, so get ready to start voting! Every time i work on TheDesignAir, I’m in awe of the following it…
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While TheDesignAir Awards 2023 public vote is due to end on the 8th November, there’s still a chance for design studios, airlines and airports to enter our recently launched Design Innovation award which celebrates innovation in the passenger experience field that enhances the traveller journey. From new seats to game-changing passenger experience products, sustainable service…
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We’re currently in an era of rebounded passenger volumes, overwhelming profit margins, and seemingly sustained growth in virtually all aspects of the aviation industry. While much of that profit has been realised by heavily streamlined operations post-COVID, it’s also been due to pared back passenger experiences over the past 12 months, with many airlines only…
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As 2022 draws to a close, we’ve seen the airline industry bounce back with a vengeance. The industry has proven itself as strong as ever, rebounding with new routes, new aircraft, new interiors and a sense of optimism once again. We have continued to see innovation, enhancements, and a renewed investment into the passenger experience.…
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It’s with great pleasure TheDesignAir’s 10th annual award winners have been announced today, celebrating the very best in aviation design, brand and passenger experience from across the globe. We’re thrilled to see airlines once again investing in passenger experience and brand, and there have been many excellent entrants and shortlisted entries this year. We’re thrilled…
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While TheDesignAir Awards 2022 public vote is due to end on the 6th November, there’s still a chance for design studios, airlines and airports to enter our recently launched Design Innovation award which celebrates innovation in the passenger experience field that enhances the traveller journey. From new seats to covid innovations, sustainable service ware to…
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As 2021 draws to a close, we’ve all seen disruption and resilience in aviation in equal measure. The industry has proven itself as strong as ever, facing multiple lockdowns, border closures, new strains and an ever changing landscape. We’ve seen airlines open new routes, shift to cargo, and even through the thick of the hardest,…
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As 2021 comes to a close, we take a look back at some of our most popular stories on the site this year, as well a few of our own favourites too. Do let us know what were your own personal highlights too, we’d love to hear from you. Here’s to another exciting year in…
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After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the return of its annual Airline Design awards. Celebrating the very best in airline passenger experience, brand and design across the globe, the awards – now in its 9th year – have once again bestowed its leading design airlines, new products and…
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TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the return of our annual awards in 2021. While we took the decision to postpone the awards in 2020 due to the impact the pandemic had on the aviation industry, we feel now is the right time for its return. We’re pleased to combine both 2020 and 2021’s advancements to…
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“When I started this site back in 2012, I had no idea that I’d still be writing almost daily on the design developments across aviation, or that it would grow to become one of the top online aviation resources with thousands of subscribers, followers and countless emails and messages of support.” Jonny Clark, Founder TheDesignAir…
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TheDesignAir is pleased to announce another show on YouTube. Titled ‘Design Details’ we lift the lid on the latest product launches and get to grips with what this means for us, as passengers. The show joins our regular round up to give our readers more ways to consume our content.
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2020 has been perhaps one of the most challenging years for commercial aviation since the industry started. While the industry has survived terrorism, volcanic ash, wars and epidemics, this pandemic has shaken the industry to its core. The rulebooks have been thrown out and airlines have had to fight for their survival. While some governments…
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You might have seen in the news, that airlines are increasingly turning to UV (and in particular UVC) to sanitise their fleets. Only in the past few weeks JetBlue adopted a new trolley-based light sanitisation station that’s wheeled through the cabin to disinfect the cabin in approximately 10 minutes. Why UV light? While UVA and…
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“It’s hard to believe I created this site over eight years ago. In such a short time the passenger experience has developed so much. It is testament to the airlines, design agencies and passengers who collectively morphed the airline experience in to the best the skies have seen since aircraft first flew. I created this site…
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TheDesignAir is pleased to share a free-to-download White paper on the ‘Future of Travel’, reflecting on the changes to the passenger experience post-Covid19. Founder of the site, Jonny Clark, explores gradual shifts and changes we can expect to see across the airline industry, both on the ground and in the skies. The major changes we…
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2020 sees a wave of new hotel openings across the globe, and we’re already aware of a few in 2021 that we’re even more excited about, but have to remain tight-lipped. But here’s a round-up of just a few that have caught our eye. Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort Let’s start with a hotel we’re actually…
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“2020 sees our 9th year in operation. Those nine years have seen us report on a myriad of new product releases, seats and lounges across the globe, and it’s been a pleasure running it for so many years. It’s seen the site grow to run an annual awards and traverse the globe in search of…
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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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“2019 will see TheDesignAir’s eighth year operating. If you had asked me 7 years ago when I wrote my first post whether I would still be doing this today, my answer would have probably been a simple ‘nope’. Yet here we are, still writing about the latest product releases, new airline brands, the hottest uniforms…
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TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the 2018 Award winners as voted for by our esteemed judging panel and our readers. This year has seen a wave of improvements around the world in the field of passenger experience. From impressive new business class cabins to swathes of new airline lounges, no stone has been left unturned…
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TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the shortlist for the DesignAir Awards 2018 and just like last year, we’ve opened some of the categories to the public, so you can vote for the winners you feel are most worthy. Now is your chance to pick from our shortlisted categories for Best Design Airline, by region, across…
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Helping TheDesignAir in 2018 “Thank you for taking the time to read this. You’ve done that as hopefully you are keen to help support TheDesignAir in 2018 and have found our site useful in the past and in the future too. I created this site back in 2012, to help bring the latest news and product…
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