British Airways’ recent upgrade to its Club World with the new Club World Suite has given the carrier a bit of a conundrum. As the airline has started the retrofit of its fleet with the new Business Class product, it’s left the First Class cabin, even the latest incarnation offering very little difference on paper.…
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MEA doesn’t often feature on TheDesignAir, as it has slipped under the radar for a while with its older fleet and less-than-design approach to aviation. However it seems the airline has turned a corner and is featuring firmly on our radar now. While not as ‘bells and whistles’ as many other Middle Eastern carriers, it…
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We’re starting to see some positive stories across the industry now, focussing on a return to service and a return to growth. From Wizz’s latest route announcements, to design agencies and airlines setting up their near-future solutions to Covid-19. However, American Airlines’ latest 787 deliveries re-energise a positive conversation about cabin releases on the horizon.…
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This week saw British Airways launch new products for those in the front and the back of the plane. For those in then pointy end, flying from San Francisco and Newark can now enjoy made-to-order cocktails, in just 45 seconds thanks to an automated cocktail maker. Now, while BA doesn’t offer Bartenders in the same…
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Air France has just announced two new Business Class product launches, both on the ground and in the skies, geared towards the leisure market. Launched in close proximity the airline has announced its latest Caribbean and Indian Ocean retrofit featuring an economy-heavy configuration with brand new Business Class cabin, paired with a new Paris Orly…
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British Airways just celebrated its centenary year and as part of its new year’s resolutions (Happy New Year everyone!) the carrier has hinted at some much needed upgrades to its Heathrow lounge complexes. 2019 saw the carrier bring a host of new lounge designs to its network including San Francisco, Geneva, New York and Milan.…
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June might have seen the opening of the Platinum Wing, but Finnair (just in time for Christmas) has unveiled the final phase of its non-Schengen lounge expansion with the opening of its new, larger, Business Class Lounge. The lounge – just like the Platinum Win – showcases contemporary Nordic design throughout and set on a range…
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Last week KLM officially opened its completely renovated non-Schengen Crown Lounge at Schiphol Airport. The lounge far outperforms the pervious incarnation, and celebrates new food and beverage concepts including it’s pay-for Blue restaurant. KLM’s non-Schengen Crown Lounge (the official name) is located between the E and F piers at Schiphol. The “KLM House” is identifiable…
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LATAM’s 25th Boeing 787 took off for the first time from Santiago International Airport yesterday as flight LA750 to São Paulo, Brazil. The group received the new aircraft last week at Boeing’s Delivery Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Not only is this the 25th 787-9, but this is the first Boeing 787 to feature LATAM’s…
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Cathay Pacific might be impacted by the recent unrest on their doorstep, but that isn’t stopping them enticing their premium passengers with an elevated travel experience. The airline has focussed their attention to enhancing the service, soft products and culinary offerings both in its First and Business Class cabins. These enrichments are designed to “offer…
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British Airways has been busy on the ground recently, and Johannesburg, South Africa was the latest destination to receive a lounge refurbishment. The space, based in O.R. Tambo International Airport has undergone significant refurbishment with the new and improved space being converted into one large lounge with a dedicated boutique dining area for First customers. The…
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The first of Qantas’ upgraded A380s welcomed its first passengers yesterday on the London to Sydney route, delivering a radical new cabin enhancement for Australia’s national carrier’s largest aircraft. The multi-million dollar upgrade of their 12 superjumbo aircraft includes new seating across Business and larger Premium Economy cabins and a refresh of the aircraft’s First…
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This week saw LATAM unveil the final phases of its upgraded ‘Premium Business’ service by showcasing to press the first Boeing 777 in its fleet to feature the group’s new cabin product. The new business class service and hard product is part of a $500 million investment to improve the passenger experience and includes US$400…
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We are in awe by the latest developments at ANA (All Nippon Airways). The airline has just announced its collaboration with famed architect Kengo Kuma and leading British designers Acumen to roll out a total of twelve completely redesigned Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in time for the Tokyo 2020 games. The first redesigned (premium-heavy) aircraft will…
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There are a few times in the past few years I’ve been proud of the advancements in service levels across all cabins, and this is one of them. Delta seems to be bucking the trend of shredding any passenger comforts away and de-bundling the inflight experience. In one bold statement made today, the airline has…
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ANA is in the process of making a series of comprehensive changes to the seats on domestic and international aircraft as part of its strategy to remain at the forefront of hospitality and passenger comfort for every type of flyer. The renovations will improve the Economy Class product while also increasing the number of Premium…
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While British Airways has invested heavily in to its Club World, including new bedding and dining, its very top cabin class was left at the wayside, meaning that in some respects, the Club World product out-delivered the carrier’s flagship product. However, all that is apparently set to change as British Airways’ First cabin undergoes a…
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Believe it or not, the 777 toilet may not be one of the most talked about parts of the passenger experience, but it hasn’t really changed since the 777 came to service decades ago. So step ahead 24 years and it’s about time that a company is offering a brand new concept to the aircraft’s…
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Yesterday saw the re-opening of American Express’ Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport. The lounge was recently expanded and renovated to offer Platinum Card Members access to even more space and better food and beverage selections in one of the network’s most popular lounges. Featuring an extra 100 seats, the lounge encompasses 12,300 sq. ft,…
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It’s amazing what a winglet and a bit of a reshuffle in the cabin can do. Introducing the new Airbus A380plus. While the remodel includes a 4% reduction in fuel burn and a 13% decrease per seat, the aircraft manufacturer is touting no reduction in comfort, even though it is adding 80 extra seats. How…
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Two years in the making, the brand new collection of Alessi Serviceware for Delta’s multiple premium cabins has been revealed. One part of Delta’s multi-billion dollar investment into the passenger experience, the new range of designer flatware, cutlery and glasses will be unique to the airline. Appearing onboard 1st April 2017, the design process started…
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JAL announced yesterday they will be opening a totally renovated Sakura Lounge in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport on March 1st. The new oneworld lounge will join fellow member Cathay Pacific’s designer lounge, opened in June 2015. “With the aim of creating a relaxed and comfortable environment to meet our customer requirements, JAL redesigned and upgraded…
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Philippine Airlines‘ plan to create a 5-star airline have taken a huge leap forward this week, with the announcement that they will convert the cabin lay-out of eight economy-only A330-300s to include brand new Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class cabins. PAL is one of a few Asian carriers who have been stuck in the middle…
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Royal Schiphol Group and KLM just awarded the contract for the redesign and extension of the existing international KLM Crown Lounge in Amsterdam. The ambitious project by Ballast Nedam and ULC Groep will include the addition of a whole new floor to the lounge and building an outdoor terrace all based on a new interior design. When…
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If travelling internationally with American Airlines, chances are you’ve heard about the carriers wide-body fleet touting all-aisle-access and fully flat beds on certain key routes. However, if you are flying on a less prestigious city pairing, you may still be flying on one of American’s slightly more dated 757 products. The good news is that…
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When airlines such as Qatar Airways have announced recently they are working on a brand new Business Class seats and Emirates is working on new First Class suites, it was a surprising twist to see Delta, a US carrier to leap-frog the competition with an adapted Thomson Aero Seating product by Factorydesign. The US airline’s new Delta One…
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Passengers flying from Manchester and Birmingham in the UK are starting to see real improvements in the inflight product being offered them. The airports have had fairly good connections around the world for years, but as they have been seen as less important routes for international airlines, the product rolled out to these airports weren’t the flagship products seen…
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As spotted by one of our avid followers with a keen eye (thank you), TAM have revealed their 777 business class cabin refresh (above), something they announced they were going to do late last year. On their website there is an image of an improved 777 business class cabin, with an interior that matches their 787…
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Lufthansa have been working on a new premium economy product for the past few years and have just announced they are to be introduced into their long haul fleet. Seen globally as a huge success since the invention from Virgin Atlantic, in 1992, many airlines now offer a class between economy and business class, as…
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In a roll out across the 777 fleet, and part of the ‘Best & Beyond’ service and product renovation project, Air France have finally caught up with their international competitors by offering fully flat seating in their business class cabins. The seating may look familiar, being adopted the world round for it’s successful mix of…
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