Launched last month, TAM’s latest special livery celebrates Walt Disney World and is a kid’s dream. The 767-300, which has been flying to Orlando, may however be the last special livery for TAM, with the new LATAM livery scheduled to come into service in the next few months.

However this livery is the first aircraft in Latin America to fly with a Walt Disney World themed aircraft. The wrapping of the #PlaneofDreams is the celebration of the successful partnership that began in 2009, when TAM Viagens (TAM Vacations) became an approved Disney operator, a partnership that becomes stronger each year. “Working together we add expertise, value and even more quality to the products and services offered to our customers. In 2016, we will launch several promotions together, focused on the end consumer and the trade,” said Marcelo Dezem, TAM Viagens Director.

The design, which features Disney’s Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, and will fly to the carrier’s long-distance international routes. But the mammoth task of bringing this plane wrap to life is impressive in itself.

Pieced together from 536 separate artwork pieces, this could be classed as the largest Disney jigsaw ever made, totalling 9,000 square feet. Preparing the Boeing 767-300 involved dozens of professionals from the creation and development teams, engineering, infrastructure, operations, marketing and communication.

Taking 10 days of hard work to bring to life, The “Plane of Dreams” has been flying the last month across the TAM 767 network, but with all eyes now waiting on the new LATAM livery to be rolled out, its a safe assumption that this may be LAN and TAM’s last special livery, with new liveries only now being rolled out with the new combined look.

Still, take a look through the gallery to see TAM’s attention to detail in creating one of the largest Walt Disney World billboards.

The Big Picture

Monday 28th March 2016 marked the arrival of the Star Wars BB-8 ANA Jet in Los Angeles International Airport. The third and final of the three Star Wars Jets from ANA is a 777, painted in the colours of the newest droid to the Star Wars franchise, BB-8.

Like the other Star Wars Jets by ANA, the final and largest of the three aircraft also features a specially branded interior as well as the exterior. The interior of the BB-8™ ANA Jet features specially-designed BB-8 paper cups and headrest covers, and cabin attendants will wear BB-8 aprons.

The BB-8™ ANA JET is scheduled to fly various international routes, principally routes linking Tokyo and the US including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Houston.

We’ve always loved the ANA Star Wars Jets, and this final one, may not be as instantly recognised as the R2-D2 stalwart, but is equally as impressive, and a rare sight to behold. We can’t wait to peek a glimpse at any of the three up close and personal.

The Big Picture

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the new Superman Vs. Batman movie currently out at the cinemas. The latest in the superhero movie franchise starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill as the two crimefighting men in capes.

Also, the main partner of the movie is Turkish Airlines who cleverly put themselves at the heart of the action. Even Wonder Woman flies on the airline, opting for the business class comfort over her invisible plane.

The airline even started an advertising campaign that promotes the carrier’s new routes Gotham City and Metropolis (which allegedly was the topic of some amusement, as after the commercial some people wanted to purchase tickets to the two fictional cities). The YouTube video has already reached 27million views in just two months, showcasing the success of this brand partnership for the carrier.

However, back in the real world Turkish Airlines also wrapped one of their aircraft in a dual-sided design for one of their 777-300ERs to celebrate the film launch. On the boarding side, the superman logo is emblazoned on the empennage, whilst on the other, the large batman symbol can be seen.

It may have been flying for a matter of weeks already, but the images from the movie launch show how the livery may have originally been designed. Instead of just featuring on the rear 1/3rd of the fuselage, the livery on the scale model aircraft run the entire length of the fuselage which much more dramatic effect.

It’s not clear whether this full-aircraft design is an indication of how the design was going to come to life, or whether its purely for promotional uses on the red carpet, either way, this is another special livery aircraft that is well worth hunting out for on an airport apron near you. Now, where did we park our invisible plane?

China Airlines recently unveiled an exclusive look into their new A350 XWB aircraft, coming into service within just a few months. The interiors are, at first glance, carbon copies of the already established 777-300ER (the last of which is just about to be delivered to the carrier), however, in an exclusive TheDesignAir interview with the China Airlines design team, we discover the heart of the new A350 design is far more than skin deep.

CAL has felt obviously felt comfortable with the current LOPA (layout) of the 777. As far as the aircraft’s real estate goes, Business Class, Premium Economy, Economy and the FamilyCouch have all got a fairly similar presence on the A350 floorplan. Business class features 32 seats in a 1 x 2 x 1 seating configuration, there are 31 premium economy seats in a 2 x 3 x 2 configuration and 243 economy seats, which include 12 FamilyCouch sets of seats, which turn into a comfortable bed.

The design has evolved from the original 777 concept, and even though it is still headed up by head designer Ray Chen, the A350 has a more contemporary twist on the previous incarnation. “The design is based on four core elements,” state the China Airlines design team. “Culture, commitment, nature and metal.”

The elements become clear to see throughout our interview, with the design team going into detail through every new design flourish. To represent culture, the carrier has adopted the use of a royal blue colour sporadically throughout the cabin. Blue may be the most widely used colour in aviation, but it also has roots in Taiwanese culture and can be seen throughout a variety of reference points within the country. Instead of branding the whole interior, the design team has added an element of surprise here. Headrests when moved reveal the blue, or opening the seat pocket to reveal a blue lined interior.

To be clear, the commitment element of the design is a ‘commitment to service’. This has been achieved by placing a ‘stamp’ in the cabin, found in the occasional plum blossom seat found through the economy cabin ­– a clever way of breaking up the sea of seats, but also reinforcing the concept that every passenger is valued by the airline. The design team has even weighted the random seating of blossom coloured seats to become more common to the rear of the aircraft, so as walking through gives the sense of the blossom coming into season.

The nature elements are the most familiar, with the persimmon wood veneers appearing again as bulkheads, tray tables and finishing touches throughout the cabin. The wood in Taiwanese culture reflects a ‘persistent prosperity’ which doesn’t naturally translate outside of Asian culture, however, its distinct grain creates the iconic and instantly recognisable interior now synonymous with China Airlines and perhaps the most obvious aesthetic to connect the two new aircraft.

The Metallic element is the newest element to the cabin philosophy, introduced to reflect the “hi-tech” A350 credentials. This means that details within the cabin don’t shy away from metallic finishes, such as personal lamps tray table catches or mini pop-up cocktail trays in premium economy – this is about changing the unexpected though, and the finishes are purposeful, rather than just leaving aluminium elements exposed within the aircraft.

“The 777 reflects a more cultural and creative environment, while the A350 has a more lifestyle and trend based cabin” state a very passionate China Airlines on the clear differentiation between the two cabin concepts. It is understandable why the carrier is so passionate, there has been a significant amount of research into reflecting Taiwan in the cabin design. 58% of Taiwan is covered in forest, so the introduction of wooden veneer does more than create an impact – it tells a story to foreigners, as well as feeling familiar to local travellers.

While the Business Class (B/E Aerospace Super Diamond) and Premium economy class hard products are pretty much identical to the 777, there are noticeable differences. There are new seat fabrics, a ‘Dragon Claw’ table lamp in business class representing ‘Oriental culture and elegance’ and a new vanity mirror hidden in one of the seat compartments. We also love the removal of the airbag from the seatbelt, a cumbersome affair in the 777 (which has been now located in the shell in the seat in front).

Within Premium economy the seats offer different shades of grey on the inside and exterior of the shell and also feature metallic finishes. The economy seats are all new, and being an A350 in a 3 x 3 x 3 format, offer increased seat width compared to the 777-300ER cabin.

Looking to the floor, throughout the cabin is a specially commissioned abstract print graphic of the persimmon wood, which acts as a motif on the carpet of the aircraft as well as appearing on the hard shells of the business class seats.

Like In all business classes around the world, the biggest differences can be seen at the front of the plane. The ceiling has been lifted through the removal of the central overhead bins enhancing the illusion of a more residential space in the sky.

The A350 doesn’t have the same space as the 777 within the entrance way, and as such the walk up Sky Lounge doesn’t have the same real estate, so a more compact Lounge has been created, although the space still serves the same library, snack and drink concept as found on the larger cousin. The airline has also accepted the small design flaws from the first incarnation of the NextGen product, and has addressed the design issues in the reflective wall panels in the entrance area. The hidden poems found in the wall panels have more contrast, so the words are more visible, and there will also be a new branded panel infront of the entrance door, washed with a directional light to increase the residential feel.

For those who can’t afford business class, there is also a wealth of improvements. New economy class seats offer increased space around the knees through the repositioning of the literature pocket away from the knee area and smaller IFE boxes and aligned seat architecture means foot space for each seat is increased too – and the fact this is an A350 means passengers can enjoy an 18” seat width guarantee, which means the SkyCouch now offers an extra few inches of bed length.

China Airlines has proved that is has not only established a industry leading product on the 777 but developed and evolved an equally impressive product on their new A350. Stay tuned, as we will reveal more on the product when the aircraft is delivered in a few months time.

Flight: AF456
Aircraft Type: B777-200
Class: Business Class
Route: CDG-GRU
Date: April 2016

www.airfrance.com

Ever since our failed chance to experience Air France’s new business class last year, we’ve been keen for another opportunity to experience Air France’s latest and acclaimed new hard product, that has moved the carriers 2 x 3 x 2 seating to a 1 x 2 x 1 seating, which offers all aisle access, something that carrier Emirates needs to realise is fast becoming industry standard for a long haul business class. On a recent trip to Sao Paulo, our latest writer Sandro Squillace managed to secure an upgrade to business class from premium economy meaning it was the perfect opportunity to trial Air France’s pointy end of their 777-200’s.

On The Ground

Air France has pretty excellent ground services around the world through its connections with KLM and SkyTeam. Being an upgraded sector from Paris only, we were an economy class passenger from London’s Terminal 4. However, as the upgrade was pre-planned, and the longest leg of the flight was in business class, we were able to use the Sky Priority lane in Heathrow’s T4 check in.

This was a great advantage, as the queues for check in with Air France / KLM were fairly large, even though we were checking in at 5am for a flight to Paris. Sky Priority is available for Premium Economy passengers anyway, along with Business and La Premiere as well as member airlines premium tier frequent fliers.

Heathrow also benefits from fast track security and lounge access utilising the SkyTeam lounge which features Clarins spa services (not open this early in the morning) and hot and cold breakfast offerings depending which of the two floors you choose to relax in.

Even economy class passengers can choose from an impressive selection of shops and duty free offerings in the updated Terminal 4.

In CDG connection times meant that boarding was only 45 minutes after landing, which meant for a short overall trip (CDG boasts some of the shortest connection times through the whole of Europe – contrary to popular belief.) Even through a day of strikes, the process was seamless and effortless.

For those with longer connection times can take advantage of Air France’s several different airport lounges including their flagship long haul Air France lounge.

The Cabin

Our main report starts on boarding the 777-200 from CDG airport Terminal 2E. Boarding commenced on time and those with Sky Priority were invited to board first.

The new Air France cabin, which is available on most of their long haul flights (excluding A380s) now offer a 1 x 2 x 1 seating configuration utilising the reverse herringbone configuration that is becoming the industry norm for business class passengers – it’s a huge leap forward from their previous 2 x 3 x 2 configuration and suits both solo travellers and couples alike – without the dreaded middle seat.

While the aircraft features 280 seats in total, the business class cabin feels far from cramped. The forward cabin is split into 7 rows featuring 28 seats and the smaller micro cabin to the right of the entrance door features 12 seats in a smaller cabin of 3 rows.

The actual cabin decoration is fairly sparse. The white seats and walls are plain but colour is injected through the navy blue seats and carpet. We love the minimal use of the red colour found through the seat trim and curtains in the cabin. This may not be as comprehensive as the cabin design of other carriers such as China Airlines who spent a lot of time creating a unique environment, but its still a very chic and refined cabin experience and pleasant to the eye – and we don’t see it dating for a good few years.

The Seat

Air France has done a good job of customising their Zodiac Cirrus seat, the same hard product found on Cathay Pacific. The Air France seat is incredibly chic, with faux padded shell, bright flashes of red found in the seat trim and storage units, and a luxurious dark navy blue seat fabric with leather headrest.

As soon as we arrived at the seat, champagne was offered and our coat was taken. It was then time to explore the seat that would be our home for the next 12 hours. On nestling into the space, the seat comfort was really noticeable and naturally being a Cirrus seat, there were a seemingly infinite amount of seat positions to cater for the passengers requirements.

There is also ample storage, both in the overhead bins and the seat itself, with the iconic red-lined side cabinet being the perfect place to store personal effects throughout the flight. The cabinet features a latticework of straps perfect for hooking on reading glasses or inserting tickets, it also has a vanity mirror, perfect for applying make up prior to landing.

When converted into a bed, the seat has plenty of space, and the small footwell where a passengers feet end up is still large enough to comfortably move your feet without constantly bumping into the furniture and feeling restrictive.

The Food

Air France’s most successful offering lies in their food and beverage. Just as we explored in our previous Air France trip, the carrier doesn’t cease to amaze with excellent quality dining options and fine wines even in business class.

You can see the full menu in the gallery above. After take off there was a drink service and the food order was taken. Being a day flight there was no sense of urgency or rush, yet the cabin crew were efficient and very attentive.

After a glass of Champagne and Mise en Bouche (Scallops with crispy vegetable), the large table was laid and a tray brought out with the starter and fairly large side salad and crisp bread roll.

The starter, consisting of two servings, a smoked duck foie gras terrine with mango chutney and a mozzarella cheese timbale with pesto sauce were both tasty and somewhat unexpected as a pairing was delicious, fresh and filling.

The main courses were available for both of the two services on the flight, for the first sitting, we decided to opt for the Shrimp Clafouti with tomato sauce with red curry, carrot pearls soybeans and olive oil. It was very filling, and while not the most beautiful presentation, incredibly tasty.

After dinner (and the cheese course), we were pretty full, so opted for a clean fruit plate and a small ice cream to cleanse the palette.

After the lunch service, a wide selection of treats were on offer, although we settled into the IFE and kept ourselves entertained before having an afternoon snooze. The snooze meant we slept through the second service which included an appetiser of beef and shrimp, followed by the same selection of main courses, however apparently the sushi was very popular.

The Entertainment

The seat features an industry standard 16″ screen which is the perfect size for this seat. Unlike the previous incarnation of the business class product, the interface is much better and easier to use too.

Alongside the traditional IFE screen, which can be viewed using a decent pair of noise cancelling headphones housed in their bright red cabinet, there are a wealth of newspapers and magazines on offer including their substantial inflight magazine and Madame, their fashion and lifestyle magazine targeted to female travellers.

The touchscreen hand controller for those who don’t want to reach out to the touchscreen is sat next to the shoulder is the perfect place as it doesn’t get knocked easily and is easy to stow away when the seat is both upright and reclined.

The Extras

Even before sitting down, where a coat hanger awaits your arrival, Air France set the scene for the extras that come with a business class ticket.

Hot towels, pre-dinner drinks, fleece lined blankets and soft extra large pillows and a designer day amenity kit that is filled with toothpaste, eye mask, and the usual amenities. The lavatories are decked out with Clarins lotions and cleansers.

We also really liked the slippers and shoe bag which we only normally see on flights to and from Asia.

In Conclusion

Air France is often a carrier of choice due to the affordable prices they offer on most of their routes. Their SkyTeam partners also mean their earning potential on a variety of partner miles programs make AirFrance | KLM a good option for connecting passengers across Europe and Asia. All that aside, the airline delivers an excellent product that over delivers on price. It may not be as ostentatious as Asian or Middle Eastern competitors, but considering this product is built for business passengers, the lack of excess makes the product even more chic, practical and enjoyable. Air France has a consistent high-quality business class, that through its new cabins, will deliver on expectations for years to come.

The Big Picture

THEDESIGNAIR.NET TRAVELLED AS A GUEST OF AIR FRANCE, HOWEVER THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN

ANA announced today that it will reveal another new Star Wars themed aircraft to its fleet, adding to its three existing planes that have Star Wars characters as livery.

The latest droid to grow wings is C-3PO, one of the only characters to be featured in every single Star Wars film so far. As part of the airline’s five year deal with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd, the iconic droid will grace one of the carriers 777 aircraft, which will be deployed on domestic routes from the end of March 2017.

Why Star Wars? Well, actually its because of the Halo effect. ANA is working hard to develop its international brand awareness, and by piggy-backing the global phenomenon of Star Wars, is becoming an international name through association.

The C-3PO jet is more striking the other aircraft, featuring a full golden fuselage and exposed wiring decal above the wings.

Which is your favourite? We are asking in one of our polls which you believe is the best Star Wars Livery by ANA!

For those who have an interest in Mexican archaeology and anthropology, you may get a little excited to see one of Mexico’s most famous deities adorning Aeromexico’s brand new 787-9. Named Quetzalcoatl, meaning “Feathered Serpent,” the new livery was the winning design from the carrier’s ‘Design in the Air’ competition.

Taking an eye-watering nine days to paint, (Six days longer than was originally planned) the design offers a unique fusion of tradition and modernity and acts as the perfect vehicle to celebrate the carrier’s brand new 787-9 aircraft.

In November 2014, Aeromexico’s contest was launched via social media and at several universities, inviting participants to submit a creative image to be painted on an aircraft’s fuselage. More than 1,000 participants presented their designs during the four-week contest period, 400 of which were chosen for meeting the requirements established in the rules. The winning design was created by graphic designer José Manuel Escudero of the Mexican state of Veracruz.

Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa said “At Aeromexico, we are very excited about the buzz the Quetzalcoatl design has generated. As Mexico’s flagship carrier, this aircraft will become an icon of our fleet and a reflection of what Mexico is today, with culture and tradition represented in what we consider to be one of the most sophisticated creations of modern aviation engineering.”

The first of 10 787-9’s for the carrier, Aeromexico is the second airline in Latin America to operate the model. The aircraft type has been incredibly popular with airlines around the world. Aeromexico state in their press release “If an airline places an order for a 787 today, it could take between 10 to 15 years for it to be delivered.” With a fuselage measuring 20 feet longer than the 787-8, the 787-9 has capacity for 48 additional passengers on longer routes (up to 300 more nautical miles) with 20% greater fuel efficiency, and up to 20% fewer emissions than the aircraft this model is replacing.

The airline has hinted at even more developments, saying that it will wait until the plane lands in Mexico to unveil the interior of this new aircraft that will change its customers’ travel experience.

If you are a lover of all things and design and all things aviation (and we trust you are if you are on our site) then you will love the Boeing Store’s latest Custom Hangar pieces. The Custom Hangar Catalog features a collection of furniture and artwork derived from genuine aircraft parts. Collectable one off pieces include a bench made from a 727-200 jetliner wing slat; a B-17 Flying Fortress propeller blade; and a sleek bar made from the engine of a DC-9/MD-80 airliner.

The artworks are all unique, and forged by buyers and craftspeople who personally climb through aviation boneyards and storage facilities in search of rare artifacts that they refurbish and finish by hand. Each piece is placed in a museum-quality mounting fabricated using authentic materials such as aviation-grade aluminum, steel, and titanium.

The result? Pieces that are at once beautiful, functional and historically significant. Most of the artifacts logged numerous hours of service, gaining a patina that the Custom Hangar craftspeople work to retain.

The metal surface of an engine blade from an F-4 Phantom II fighter jet ($90), for example, is naturally discolored by the high temperatures reached in generating sufficient thrust to propel the jet at speeds up to Mach 2.2. An aluminum window frame ($695) from the first jumbo jet model, the 747-100, features lines of rivets that withstood the strain of more than 100,000 hours in the air.

Despite the scarcity of the artifacts, this isn’t an out-of-reach fantasy collection. Pieces range in price from $50 for a specially gift-boxed pen made out of a 747 circuit-breaker tab, to $5,900 for an industrial-chic bench built around a leading-edge slat removed from the wing of a 727-200 jetliner, to $9,500 for a gleaming aluminum and stainless-steel wine bar made from the engine case of a retired DC-9/MD-80 airliner.

Artifacts in the catalog represent a selection of current Custom Hangar offerings. Additional items are available online at BoeingStore.com and in select Boeing Store retail outlets across the US. New artifacts are added constantly. “Sometimes it’s like a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark,” said Gerardo Mores, Custom Hangar buyer and product developer. “We don’t know what’s inside the shipping crate until we open it!” But thanks to the online store, you most certainly will!

Qantas today revealed a new livery and brand image for the carrier. This is only the fifth time the iconic red-and-white ‘Roo’ tail of Qantas aircraft has been updated since it was first introduced in 1944. The last update was actually more recent than you might realise, as it was tweaked with the introduction of the Airbus A380 back in 2007.

“Since the image of a kangaroo first appeared on a Qantas aircraft more than 80 years ago, it’s come to represent the spirit of Australia. When passengers see the Qantas tail at airports around the world, it’s a symbol of home,” said Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce.

It’s all about visually communicating a more contemporary brand “We wanted to make sure our brand remained familiar but we also wanted it to be more modern and dynamic, like the 787 and like Qantas.

Spearheading the new design was Qantas consultant stalwart designer, Marc Newson, in partnership with Australian design agency Houston Group. Marc Newson, who has helped design Qantas’ lounges, the A380 cabin and the iconic Skybed stated, “Aircraft tails are fantastic canvas to work on and the Qantas logo is one of the most recognisable in the world. This re-design aims to retain the fundamental essence of the flying kangaroo but also move the brand forward.

“This new brand is more streamlined and the shading behind the kangaroo gives a better sense of movement and depth. A silver band now extends from the tail to the rear of the fuselage, to give a more premium feel.

“The typography for the word Qantas, which measures almost two metres high on the 787, has been carefully streamlined. And Qantas will appear on the aircraft’s belly, so you can tell when it’s the national carrier flying overhead,” Mr Newson added.

Some key changes

• A streamlined Kangaroo on the tail of the aircraft, with shading to give it a sense of depth and movement. The Kangaroo itself has been simplified for a cleaner, more modern look.
• A silver band has been added to the rear of the aircraft, flowing from the tail through to the rear of the fuselage for a more premium feel and more contrast between the red tail and the rest of the aircraft.
• A new, slimmer font for the world ‘Qantas’ on the side of the aircraft and the colour made slightly lighter.
• The word Qantas is added to the belly for increased visibility when aircraft are flying overhead.
• Adding the Kangaroo to the inside curved edge of the wingtips so that they are in-flight and meaning they will also appear in pictures people take out the aircraft windows.
• Replacing, centring and enlarging the Kangaroo that appears on outboard engine cowls, so that it is more prominent and identifiable.
• Re-introducing the iconic ‘winged Kangaroo’ that featured on Qantas tails in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s by placing it under the cockpit window and integrating it with the aircraft name currently in this position (note: the actual aircraft names are unchanged).
• The classic ‘Qantas red’ and white of the fuselage are unchanged.

Our take? Well we have to admit, it is a beautiful flowing form on the tail now, and still symbolic and recognisable for regular Qantas passengers. However with the removal of the ‘hands’ from the Roo now makes it less recognisable as a kangaroo, and actually pushes the logo closer to the Cathay Dragon and Turkish Airlines logos that also offer a similar white free-form shape on a red background, both also having presence in similar destinations outside of Australia. So for potential new passengers, there is a distinct chance of brand confusion with competitor airlines.

The word mark too, although clean and contemporary, feels like it is designed for today, rather than longevity. An issue with modern typefaces with distinct personalities is that they age very quickly. If Qantas is willing to constantly push forward the livery to keep a contemporary brand image (It’s only been 8 years since the last refresh) then this may not be an issue.

The New Interiors

It’s not just the 787-9 exterior that gets a modernisation. The Qantas Dreamliner will seat just 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins in a layout that has been “designed to maximise comfort for the longer distances the 787-9 is expected to fly.” and although no actual routes have been announced, they have been tipped to take over the 747 routes, and most of the longest routes on the network.

The Dreamliner cabin interiors and new economy seat, designed by Australian industrial designer David Caon, are a progression of the Qantas aesthetic established by Marc Newson.

The Business Suite is the next generation of the very popular seat recently installed on Qantas’ Airbus A330 fleet. These suites are known for providing a high level of privacy, made more flexible on the 787 with the ability to now adjust the divider between each seat. The great news for passengers is that every business class passenger will enjoy aisle access now.

While the new premium economy seat that will also feature on the 787 won’t be revealed until February 2017, the economy seat offers much of the comfort that is usually only reserved for premium economy passengers (although the airline has opted for the 787 industry standard with the narrower-than-usual 3 x 3 x 3 seating)

As well as an extra inch of seat pitch compared to the A380, the 787-9 features a new personal device holder and USB ports; more storage areas; a seat-back mood light designed to minimise disturbance for other passengers; and a high-definition entertainment touchscreen that is five per cent larger. The seats also feature an updated version of the popular Qantas ‘footnet’ first introduced on the A380, designed to cradle the legs during sleep.

Unveiling the Business and Economy seats in Sydney today, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the interiors had been carefully designed with longer routes and changing passenger preferences in mind. “Many of the cabin design elements reflect what our customers have told us. Personal storage rates really highly, so we’ve created extra space in Economy for customers to store their personal devices and water bottles.”

“We’re also redesigning the in-flight experience for the Dreamliner, from rethinking our menus to making better use of the self-service bars during different phases of flight,” added Mr Joyce.

Detail on initial Qantas Dreamliner destinations will be revealed in coming months, with the first international flights on sale before Christmas.

Aeromexico has taken delivery of it’s new 787-9 and with it, a brand new Clase Premier product designed for the long-haul routes the aircraft will fly. Adorned with the Quetzalcoatl one-off livery which we covered earlier this month, the aircraft will delight and surprise its passengers both outside and now inside too.

With the airline currently offering a 2 x 2 x 2 configuration on the current 787-8’s that Aeromexico fly, this new cabin is a giant leap ahead in passenger comfort and space. The new seats now are configured in a 1 x 2 x 1 configuration with every passenger now receiving aisle access, a first for the Mexican carrier.

The 36 seats by BE Aerospace have been upgraded from the side by side Diamond range, to the new Super Diamond range, which offer increased passenger space and privacy, similar to those found on Qatar Airways 787s and feature 18inch touchscreen hi-def screens and also now live TV channels.

As well as a large spacious business class cabin, the entrance way at Door 2 has been completely redesigned by New Territory, spearheaded by Luke Miles, the same Creative Director that reimagined much of Virgin Atlantic’s inflight product over the last decade. So it is no surprise to see a communal walk-up bar space re-emerge on this aircraft.

New Territory’s design for the onboard social space (known as ‘Espacio Premier’) however, has taken a departure from the more prescriptive bar space with limited seating to a more welcoming kitchen-style environment which is more intuitive and less disruptive to the natural LOPA of the aircraft.

The term ‘Beneficio Colectivo’ (collective benefit) helped to frame the design narrative for the social space, as it needed to communicate a sense of openness and of casual, convivial equality. We observed that not everyone feels relaxed enough to talk when they’re at a bar, so we designed the social space to feel and work less like a traditional bar and more like a beautiful domestic space. Here passengers feel relaxed enough to help themselves to drinks and refreshments, choosing if and how they interact with fellow passengers.” States Luke Miles from New Territory.

With the addition of this new bar space, which is a simpler more paired back version of China Airlines Sky Lounge concept and the new all-aisle access business class seats , Aeromexico will now offer a truly international product connecting Europe and Asia to the Americas.

The Economy cabin has 238 ergonomic seats, with individual 11-inch touchscreens, two inches larger than those featured on the carrier’s other models, offering a wide variety of movies, TV series, music, a seat-to-seat chat system, and real time flight information. Like other aircraft in the Aeromexico fleet, this model also features WiFi service giving customers the option to surf the web in-flight.

“We are proud to take delivery of this new Boeing 787-9 called Quetzalcoatl with its unique and original design that will represent Mexico across the globe. The airline hired the best suppliers in the world to obtain this mix of technology and comfort to benefit the thousands of Aeromexico customers who would rather fly on this airplane than on the other options available in the market,” said Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa.

Aeromexico will start to serve the Amsterdam, London, Madrid, New York, Paris, Santiago, Shanghai, and Tokyo routes in the coming weeks.

TheDesignAir has had access to the full behind-the-scenes gallery of Aeromexico’s latest 787-9 aircraft which will eventually fly between Mexico City and the carrier’s worldwide destinations. Designed by New Territory, the new business cabin matches our expectations of a leading international airline. Check out our full gallery below or check out our previous story here.

The colour palette is certainly paired back, as is the seat design, with less flourishes on the B/E Aerospace hard product as found on carriers such as China Airlines who have injected local flavour in the form of Dragon Claw lighting and customised trim and finishes.

That said, and not shown in these images, the 787 has got a secret weapon, which is an infinite range of colours throughout the mood lighting, which will reflect perfectly on the clean light surfaces found in the cabin.

The 787-9 from Aeromexico features some impressive stats, including the lightest compared to other 787s in the same category. This may be due to the innovative addition of an inflight bar in business class, the second only to Virgin Atlantic’s 787.

With five more 787-9’s on order, the majority of Aeromexico’s long-haul fleet will be some of the most modern in the Americas. Only the four 777s it currently flying will be slowly replaced with the new aircraft, flying to destinations in South America, Europe and Asia.

The Big Picture

Today, Qantas revealed its next-generation Premium Economy seat, which will debut on the airline’s brand new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that start flying in October 2017. In comparison to Qantas’ other Premium Economy seats, these new seats are wider and offer more functional space overall. The new seat also has a unique recline motion that provides a class-leading level of comfort.

When the rear of the seat reclines, several sections shift to support the body as it moves into a more relaxing position. One of the benefits of this motion is the tilt and pan of the seat base, which creates a lay-z seat position. Originally a Thompson Aero seating design, the seats have been heavily customised by leading Australian industrial designer David Caon.

Featured on their 787-9 aircraft, which will fly some of the longest routes for the carrier, including between Perth and London, the new seat design will offer extra comfort on the aircraft build for the carrier’s ultra-long haul routes.

Launching in October between Melbourne and Los Angeles, Qantas’ new Premium economy seats will be 10% wider, offer increased recline and an ergonomically designed headrest that can be fitted with a specially designed pillow. The seat also features a re-engineered footrest that significantly increases comfort when reclining and a high-definition Panasonic inflight entertainment seatback screen that is 25 per cent larger.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce unveiled the seat to employees and media at the airline’s Sydney headquarters stated, “The Qantas Dreamliner will by flying some of the longest routes in the world, including non-stop from Perth to London, so we’ve focused on making each cabin the most comfortable in its class.” While we don’t see anything truly revolutionary here, we do see an approach to increasing comfort. The sheer product wouldn’t allow much more than increased legroom, recline and comfort compared to the core economy product, and the 2 x 3 x 2 configuration naturally will offer a wider seat too.

What we would have really liked to have seen – especially on such a touted ‘wow-factor premium economy seat’ was an increased seat pitch. Whilst 38″ is an acceptable industry standard, some carriers (like Vietnam Airlines) who are adopting 42″+ are receiving more positive feedback, and especially on these long haul flights, those extra inches would equate to “perceived” extra comfort. All that said, these seats are a welcome addition to the 787-9 and complete the jigsaw that creates Qantas’ newest aircraft.

Flight: AF1681
Aircraft Type: B787-9
Class: Business Class
Route: LHR-CDG
Date: March 2017

www.airfrance.com

Air France started flying their 787-9 between CDG and LHR earlier this year, training staff on the aircraft before it commences its long haul duties. While only a short hop across the English Channel, it gives passengers a chance to experience the new product before committing to a long haul ticket price. We took the opportunity to try out the new aircraft and its business class cabin to see if it will stand up to the competition.

On the Ground

Air France’s ground experience at Heathrow T4 is similar to all SkyTeam airlines that fly from the Terminal. The usual Sky Priority status allows passengers in all carriers to enjoy business class check-in and fast track lanes through security. Both of which are fairly efficient. While we were only on a day trip and no luggage to check, we headed to the fast track on arrival with mobile boarding pass in hand.

There was zero queue at security even though there was a heightened police presence in the terminal after the London incident only a few days earlier, but we were in the SkyTeam lounge within 10 minutes of arriving at Heathrow.

The lounge (which we have covered many times before) is starting to show its age, however, its still spacious, well appointed and totally acceptable for an hour’s wait. Compared to the likes of the Etihad Lounge or Qatar Airways Lounge, the seating and finishes are a little dated.

The Cabin

On boarding the aircraft, which was only a few months old, there was a distinct impression that the aircraft still had that metaphorical ‘new plane smell’. The cabin has employed the design aesthetic that can be seen in the retrofitted ‘Best and Beyond’ 777 fleet.

The overall effect is clean and contemporary, but we have to admit it is a little stark in comparison to how other airlines recently have treated their cabin interiors (such as China Airlines, South African or LATAM.) The white interiors are a clean canvas, but will start to show scuffs and damage fairly quickly.

Due to this being a 787-9, the business class cabin is situated forward of the 2nd set of doors. All 30 seats are situated in a 1 x 2 x 1 configuration through 8 rows. The cabin has just two toilets for the entire business class cabin, which on a short flight like this, was totally fine, however, on a long haul flight, an extra toilet might be useful.

The Seat

The airline has also installed the Zodiac Cirrus seat on its 787 fleet. The seat offers the traditional reverse herringbone seats that are now industry standard in business class. The seat offers ample space, and has been designed with chic simplistic elegance.

There aren’t the myriad of seat controls that can be found on some seat designs. Instead a brushed aluminium trim yields into simple illuminated buttons that recline the seat into a fully flat bed. Some may have heard about the delays currently being encountered at Zodiac’s plant in delivering seats to carriers, and perhaps the stresses are showing, as our seat squeaked incredibly loudly when being manipulated into different positions.

On an older seat, this squeaking (which caused embarrassment when trying to move it) would be an understandable element of wear and tear, but sadly on a new aircraft shouldn’t really be occurring.

This small annoyance aside, the seat is comfortable, private and well equipped for the passenger. The new tray table is bi-folding – that can be moved to a passenger’s requirements – and is supported by a large side table.

The seat also features suitable storage, which is accompanied by Boeing’s large overhead bins. The seat features the bright red side storage unit that houses the headphones, as well as vanity mirror, perfect for ladies wanting to do their make up.

The seat’s cushioning was comfortable, well padded and the lack of leather surface actually adds to the seat comfort, which would be more noticeable on a long haul flight, compared to this short 40 minute hop.

The Food

As this flight is usually served by a single aisle Airbus, the catering on the flight is the usual Euro-Business offering, which consists of a simple breakfast offering. Considering there was only 20-30 minutes of usable flight to commence service, the service was perfectly adequate.

On boarding we were handed a refreshing towel, but no complimentary drinks. This is standard for these shorter flights. Although as we boarded reasonably early, and were on the tarmac for 40 minutes before pushing back, a drink would have been a nice gesture.

After take off, a familiar but tasty tray was laid, which offered cold cut meats, an assortment of baked goods and a fruit compote. The food was tasty, and cabin crew made at least two passes with a basket of breads to accompany the conserves and butter that were also on the tray.

However, on asking for a coke, rather than tea or coffee, we were advised it wasn’t available, and only tea, coffee or water was on offer. Considering the cost of business class flights between London and Paris, it would have been nice to see additional drinks on offer. In comparison, a later flight in the afternoon, had a full bar, including champagne, wines and soft drinks, even though it being on a smaller aircraft.

The Entertainment

Air France offers gate-to-gate entertainment, meaning even though the flight was under an hour, we managed to watch over 1hour 30 minutes of entertainment. The screen is large and as a fantastic response to passenger habits, can be angle both up and down. This is very useful for passengers wanting to watch shows while in the reclined position.

The user interface is very intuitive, and easy to use. The screen is touchscreen and supported with a handset that offers a second screen that can show the aircraft map while watching a show. The headset is

Supporting the IFE system is Air France’s large and substantial ‘Magazine’ and ‘Madame’ which is designed as a female-friendly Fashion skewed title. Being a short-haul flight the airline didn’t offer its amenity kits or any additional amenities such as blankets or pillows, however these would be available on a long-haul flight, adding additional comfort.

In Conclusion

We were delighted with the flight experience, and the new aircraft. It certainly is a contemporary addition to the Air France long-haul fleet. While it was difficult to fully gauge the product on a short haul sector, we can see how it will benefit long-haul passengers when the aircraft starts to fly these sectors. The only real negative element to point out, was the seat, which needed maintenance (so early on in service) and while we would have loved to have seen more personality in the cabin design, it was clean, contemporary and reflective of the airline’s current design aesthetic.

The Big Picture

THEDESIGNAIR TRAVELLED AS A GUEST OF AIR FRANCE, HOWEVER THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE OUR OWN

Today saw the opening of reservations on Qantas’ much anticipated London-Perth-Melbourne route which will commence service 24th March 2018. Touting the airline’s most advanced aircraft the 787-9, the airline is boasting increased comfort on a cabin interior that’s been ‘designed with long-haul in mind’.

Launched on the same day, Qantas revealed its new heart-warming campaign ‘Feels like home’ which features London and the 787, promoting the new connection. “We’ve said the Qantas Dreamliner is a game changer, and that’s becoming real today,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said.

“The Kangaroo Route has kept changing with new technology. We’re conscious that this is a long flight, but not much longer than our Sydney to Dallas service. It’s the kind of route that the Dreamliner was created for, because of its built-in features to reduce jetlag and improve the overall travel experience.

The airline has opted for a lower seat count than most of its competitors. Qantas is also investing in tweaks to their standard in-flight service to help customers enjoy the journey more.

It’s certainly a long route. Touting a 17 hour flight time each way between London and Perth, it’s the third longest route in the world, and the longest that Qantas will operate. This may sound like an agonising trip but its also shaving one hour off the current London-Dubai-Melbourne Kangaroo route that it is replacing.

The 787, built for these long-haul routes will feature Qantas’ latest inflight products including Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy classes. Re-arranging the flight times, the airline is now also able to offer seamless connections between Perth and Los Angeles 6 days a week via Melbourne.

QF9/10 Flight Schedule

It is exciting to see these new wave of aircraft fulfilling their potential, providing long-range flights, and airlines embracing the passenger needs by investing in increased passenger comfort. Qantas has also invested in comfort on the ground. Perth’s terminals are being upgraded to accommodate these international flights and will eventually operate from T3/4.

Fast facts

• The 14,498km flight will take approximately 17 hours (slightly more or less depending on winds).
• When it launches, it’s expected to be the third-longest passenger flight in the world.
• It will be the longest flight on the Qantas network, followed by our non-stop A380 Sydney-Dallas service (13,730km).
• It will also be the longest Boeing Dreamliner flight in the world.
• The first regular passenger service from Australia to Europe adds to Qantas’ list of flying firsts, including:
  • First passenger jet services across the Pacific in 1959 with a B707.
  • First (and only) non-stop passenger flight from London to Sydney in 1989 with a B747-400.
  • First to operate the world’s largest passenger aircraft (A380) on the world’s longest route (Sydney-Dallas) in 2014.
• The original Kangaroo route (from Sydney to London) started in 1947 and had the following stopovers over four day duration: Sydney, Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito, Rome, London.

Icelandair have introduced a pretty ‘cool’ aircraft to celebrate their 80th year flying. The 757-200, which took 2500 man-hours to paint, is named after the largest glacier in the whole of Europe. Titled “Vatnajökull” (easy for us to say) the new livery will bring one of Iceland’s most famous landmarks across the carrier’s ever expanding network across Europe and North America.

Similar to it’s Northern Lights aircraft, the airline has also invested in turning its interior into an experiential zone. The stunning glacier themed interior is created by utilising ambient moving LED blue lighting. To support the ‘ice cave’ the headrests will be adorned with a beautiful ice white and brilliant turquoise design. Even the drinks trolley will be transformed into a mini ice-cave, while cups, napkins, and even sick bags will be decorated with glacier prints.

The plane was spray painted by hand, by a team of artists; the same group who created the Hekla Aurora plane. The process of airbrushing used to create the image of the glacier is a highly unusual, skilled job that took the team a total of 24 days to complete using 195 litres of paint. It takes 1062 litres to cover the entire plane, which is over 200 domestic size tins.

To mark the launch of the Vatnajökull, a celebration flight took place on 13^th May 2017, where a special flight path took it over the very glacier it is named after. Birkir Hólm Guðnason, CEO at Icelandair comments, “We can’t wait to share the Vatnajökull with our passengers. Icelandair believe that travelling is one of life’s great pleasures and a trip on this plane will ensure customers experience time well travelled, as they sit back and experience Iceland’s most extreme elements from the comfort of their own seats.”

EL AL was never really seen as a design-led airline, but as we showcased recently, the carrier has recently pushed itself firmly in the right direction. The reveal of the 787-9 product which will be taking to the skies soon demonstrates EL AL’s determination to be taken seriously.

Working with EL AL, London based PriestmanGoode was brought onboard to update the airline’s livery, brand identity for each class and new aircraft cabin interiors including Business Class, Premium Economy – which is new to the airline – Economy Class as well as entrance areas and galleys. The new designs will be rolled out across the airline’s new fleet of Boeing Dreamliner aircraft.

“This is the first time that EL AL has invested so heavily in design, which is testament to its commitment to its customers, and to the value of design in creating outstanding passenger experiences. Israel is a dynamic and inspiring country, something that is reflected throughout its physical landscape as much as through its people. Collaborating with EL AL’s internal team on this project has been an incredibly rewarding process.” said Nigel Goode, director at PriestmanGoode.

The livery for EL AL’s fleet of B787-9 is a modern update on the airline’s existing livery. This has the advantage of ensuring a consistent look throughout the airline’s entire fleet, whilst also making sure certain elements stand out.

The Star of David now appears larger, with its proportion in regards to the lines on the tailfin a true reflection of Israel’s national flag.

Diamonds can be seen everywhere now, both inside the cabin and outside. A ribbon across the fuselage extends the lines from the tailfin. Imbued within this ribbon are highlights and lowlights in the new feature diamond pattern. “This gives the livery an enhanced sense of movement and flow,” state PriestmanGoode. The EL AL logo has also been resized to be a bold addition to the front of the aircraft.

The airline can be forgiven for introducing a sea of blue seats, after all the carrier’s only real brand colour, is blue. Complementing the blue, the designers have injected the dark grey to add sophistication to the cabin.

New custom designed 3D brand logos feature on wall panels in each class. These include EL AL’s name in English and in Hebrew. Separate colours have been used to ensure that each language stands out on its own. The new brand logos are made in brushed metal, providing a sense of quality and attention to detail. Bespoke fabrics, décor finishes and branding details run across the entire cabin, to ensure the sense of quality is felt from Business, through Premium Economy and in Economy class.

In a bold move, the airline has opted for Recaro seats across the three cabins. In a world first, the airline has opted for Recaro’s CL6710 seat (a seat design by Acumen and Recaro’s design in-house teams).

Priestmangoode has turned the Business Class cabin around to include rich tones of champagne, chocolate and wood creating an inviting onboard environment. Features of the Business Class cabin include 32 seats all offering aisle access. The beds are 78”long, with a standard 21” seat width and a handsome 29” living space.

As most design firms manage to customise the hard product, PriestmanGoode worked with Recaro to create custom elements to increase personal stowage. The seat features a 16” LCD Panasonic screen, custom branding and trim and finish, a richly textured boucle yarn seat covers in elegant grey with hints of blue. The seat covers feature a bespoke heat pressed stitching detail to reflect the diamond pattern in the cabin and power sockets & USB for charging personal devices

In premium economy, a first for El Al, 28 seats in a 2 x 3 x 2 configuration feature textured boucle yarn seat covers in dark blue with subtle hints of grey, stone accents on seat boxing, and taupe leather headrests embossed with a diamond pattern.

The seat play home to a personal cocktail tray, 38” pitch and 19” seat width and enhanced personal storage on the back of each seat including magazine storage, personal device storage and bottle storage.

This has the benefit of giving the passenger more personal space and an uncluttered environment. As for entertainment, there’s a 13″ touch screen LCD IFE Panasonic screen and a power socket & USB for charging personal devices.

In economy, which is laid out in the standard 3 x 3 x 3 configuration, PriestmanGoode designed a completely new product with a youthful, tech driven look and feel. This is reflected in the custom trim and finish, which features a technical weave that mirrors the diamond pattern found throughout the rest of the aircraft.

Features of the Economy Class cabin include dark blue fabric seats with light blue seat boxing and warm taupe leather headrests. The technical fabric covers feature a diamond pattern stitch detail in a rich metallic blue. The economy specs are fairly standard, offering a 31” pitch and 5″ recline. Seats also feature 12” touch screens and USB charging points for personal devices.

The first of 16 Boeing Dreamliner 787’s, the world`s most advanced aircraft, will join EL AL’s renewed fleet in August 2017. Starting in September, the Dreamliner will operate flights to Europe and at the end of October will be gradually integrated into EL AL’s long-haul destinations in North America and the Far East.

Qantas recently has been touting itself as a true Ultra-haul carrier. Cutting down it’s kangaroo route from four days and seven stops to a 17 hour direct flight on the 787-9. It has some of the longest routes in the world, and it’s long haul operation reflects the fairly isolated continent from the northern hemisphere and the need for quick, comfortable journeys.

In the past decade a new wave of ultra-long haul aircraft have hit the market, improving connections and introducing new direct city pairs, previously never considered. It’s an exciting era, but with these ultra-long haul flights comes with increased times in a confined space. Manageable in business class, but not so much in the economy cabin.

So Qantas’ latest challenge to aircraft manufacturers to make New York and London a direct flight from the East Coast of Australia will certainly raise some eyebrows. This isn’t just one-upmanship, but a chance for the carrier to compete with the ME3 that offer pretty seamless connections from Europe to Australia.

The challenge comes with new issues though, 20 hour+ flights in a single hop sat in an economy seat will probably make most enter a cold sweat, and those in business would still have increased requirements such as walk-up bars and areas to stretch legs. Many passengers welcome one-stop flights on 14hour+ flights, as it offers an ability to stretch legs and get some fresh air. In fact, most travelling between the Europe or East Coast America to Australia are unlikely to opt for a direct flight in order to save a few hours.

This leaves Qantas with a bigger issue. Completely reshaping the inflight experience, more-so for economy passengers. Expect them to consider elements like walk-up bars and lounges, rental beds in economy, family pods, increased premium economy seats (or even the removal of economy in entirety) business-class only aircraft and enhanced washroom facilities. Even the food service is going to have to be rethought completely, with most flights at 20 hours plus looking at 3-4 full meal services.

But Project Sunrises’ future of 2022, isn’t as far away as we thought. The airline recently announced a refresh of its A380 fleet which puts an emphasis on the premium cabins and enhanced space. This multi-million dollar upgrade will see a change in the seat mix on the super jumbos to meet increased customer demand for premium cabins on flights to the US, Europe and Asia.

Structural changes are focused on the upper deck where 30 Economy seats will be removed and some partitions and a crew workstation rearranged to use space more effectively. This allows for an additional six Business Class and 25 Premium Economy seats, increasing the overall seat count on the aircraft by one and increasing premium seating by 27 per cent.

The capacity of Qantas A380s after the upgrade will be: 14 First Suites (unchanged), 70 Business Suites (up by six), 60 Premium Economy (up by 25) and 341 Economy (down by 30) for a total of 485 passengers (up by one). Other key elements of the A380 refurbishment program include:

• Replacing Business Class Skybeds with the latest version of Qantas’ Business Suites, dubbed ‘mini First Class’ by frequent flyers. Every seat gives direct aisle access and allows better use of cabin space compared with the Skybed.
• Installing the airline’s all new Premium Economy seat in a 2-3-2 configuration. This seat is almost 10 per cent wider than the model it replaces and will debut on the Dreamliner later this year.
• Reconfiguring the front of the A380’s upper deck to redesign the passenger lounge to provide more room for First and Business Class customers to dine and relax.
• Enhancing First Class, which remains in its current configuration on the lower deck. Each suite will be fully refurbished, including contoured cushioning and a larger, higher resolution entertainment screen.
• Updating Economy with new seat cushions and improved inflight entertainment.

Work on the first A380 is expected to begin in the second quarter of calendar year 2019. All 12 aircraft will be upgraded by the end of 2020. The design integration will be managed by Airbus and a new, larger onboard lounge designed by David Caon.

“Customers love the A380. This upgrade is a major investment in putting the next generation of seats on the aircraft as well as more creature comforts to maintain its status as one of the best ways to fly,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.

“We’re seeing increased demand for Premium Economy and Business Class on the long haul routes that the A380 operates, including from people using their Qantas points to upgrade. When more travellers experience these new seats, we expect that demand will keep rising.”

In an exclusive media event at Heathrow yesterday, Qatar Airways showed off its Quite product on the only operating aircraft with the new seats. TheDesignAir was one of the very few media outlets allowed at this exclusive show around. Currently only available on the 777 aircraft, the QSuite – Qatar Airways’ latest business class product – will soon to be expanded to Paris, New York and a second London service in the coming months.

Jonathan Harding OBE, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Europe, who led the show around, said: “We are immensely proud to introduce the QSuite on flights out of London Heathrow. This is a game-changer for Business Class travel and sets a new standard in the industry. The QSuite brings First Class excellence into the Business Class cabin. At Qatar Airways we always look to provide the best for our passengers – be bold, innovative and customer focused.”

While the current roll-out of the product is running at approximately one a month, we take an exclusive peek at what will soon become commonplace in Qatar Airways’ skies.

The Cabin

First impressions count. We are strong believers in this. The entire cabin has been refitted, it’s not just a case of new seats. The galleys are adorned with a beautiful fretwork and bulkheads in the Qatar Airways burgundy.

With Qatar Airways mood lighting, it felt like walking into a very trendy hotel, rather than an aircraft, although the walls to the suites do make navigating the aisle slightly more tricky than usual.

Featuring 42 seats in business class, the cabin keeps the same amount of the seats in the forward section, thanks to the forward / rear facing concept that runs throughout the cabin.

The Seats

The actual suites themselves are vast, and offer an impressive amount of personal space. The forward/rear facing seats naturally have a slightly different feel depending which way you are travelling, but both are equally impressive.

The seat itself feels oversized, almost like a throne, when sat in it, with a high back which forms the major part of the bed when reclined. Thanks to a myriad of controls, the seat is fully customisable, with forward tracking, recline, seat massage and a Do Not Disturb sign.

Each seat offers plenty of storage, both hidden and table areas for laptops etc. The seats are also well supplied with a variety of ports and power, including HDMI, USB and even a contactless payment pad.

The personal table, which folds out to a huge sturdy table perfect for eating, is perfect for the centre seats, but not so much for the aisle seats, as the table, when folded out is immovable, meaning getting in and out of the seat if right next to the suite wall is virtually impossible. But that said, naturally the cabin crew are constantly on hand to help should you need to stretch your legs during service. Those on the inner seats (situated away from the aisle) have the ability however to slip out should they want.

Privacy is the most impressive element to the suites with each seat being cocooned in high walls. (Although an issue with passengers using the emergency release handle to open the door rather than just pushing it too is causing a few passengers to accidentally quick release the whole door panel off, but this is something that can be addressed as the product continues to roll out)

The high walls and large doors offer a great sense of privacy. Should a passenger want to travel by themselves, even in the 4 joining suites that make a “Quad” it’s totally possible, as the joining walls are fully adjustable. Centre dividers go down between seats, and even go fully down between the ‘double beds’ (which are then covered by a special insert to make the mattress seamless)

The dividers between passengers in the middle section, (forward rear facing) can also slide back, allowing for guests to communicate through the divide. Sadly, this element wasn’t passed on to the window seats, as this would have offered more options for passengers travelling together.

As for entertainment, the glorious Oryx magazine is now hidden away in the seat furniture, but a giant 21.5inch TV screen dominates the space, offering a fully immersive, first class entertainment offering.

Thanks to an increased seat pitch compared to the usual forward / rear racing configurations, each seat enjoys a small side storage unit which allows for personal belongings and the ability to stretch out when the seat is positioned as a flat bed.

While the addition of the ‘Quad’ is an interesting gimmick, which perhaps serves its demographic of middle-eastern families very well, probably won’t get as much use as the airline expects. However the advent of the concept has brought other benefits, such as flexible seating arrangements, large private suites, and storage a plenty to give passengers a real premium-business class product.

We were thrilled to see the product, and while we stand by our previous comment that it isn’t exactly bringing anything the skies hasn’t already seen before, they’ve managed to bring all the best bits together to make an impressive, unique cabin space, that is going to receive a lot of praise over the coming months.

The Big Picture

Now if Legally Blonde created an airline it would probably look and sound a little like Westjet’s Ultra-low cost carrier ‘Swoop’. Sporting a large wave through the logo (that we can’t help but see a Trump-esque hairdo – once seen, never unseen) the airline has embraced pink as their brand colour.

The airline will be based in Calgary, Canada and will start selling flights in 2018. Basing their product on the likes of global ULCC’s Ryanair and Air Asia, its set to challenge the market. “The name Swoop denotes exactly what we plan to do,” said Bob Cummings WestJet Executive Vice-President, Strategy and the executive member responsible for the launch of Swoop. “It’s a powerful verb that demonstrates we plan to swoop in to the Canadian market with a new business model that will provide lower fares and greater opportunity for more Canadians to travel.”

The airline will start with a fleet of 737-800’s, a proven model for the LCC sector. The introduction of the colour pink into the Northern American continent will certainly do well in disrupting the market. The fun, quirky, almost 60’s hairdressing salon approach to the brand will also stand out, and we hope that the marketing team turns this up to the max to really grab consumers attention. While there are already a few LCC carriers that utilise Pink (Wow Air, Peach and Wizz Air) none truly will compete against Swoop’s core market, allowing the airline to own the brand colour in Canada.

Emirates has unveiled the first of three new aircraft liveries in its fleet dedicated to Expo 2020 Dubai, of which Emirates is the Official Airline Partner. The decal was installed on A6-EPK, an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, at the Emirates Engineering hangar.

The Expo decal applied on the Boeing 777 covers over 40% of the aircraft fuselage surface area. The design spans over 37.8 metres in length and 12 metres in width. The decal was designed, printed and installed by Emirates’ in-house graphic shop team. It took a team of 6 staff over 84 hours to complete the decal installation.

This first livery is based on the Expo 2020 logo – which itself is inspired by an ancient gold ring excavated in Dubai. Emirates will be installing three different decal designs in total to reflect the different themes of Expo 2020- namely opportunity, mobility and sustainability. The theme of the first decal installed was ‘mobility’ which also relates to Emirates’ role as a connector of people, places and opportunities, as the airline links over 150 destinations in 84 countries to, from, and via its hub in Dubai. The main theme of Expo 2020 Dubai also revolves around ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: “Expo 2020 Dubai will be an important platform facilitating a global exchange of ideas, collaborations and partnerships across a range of industries and domains. Emirates is gearing up for this landmark occasion and championing the vision of ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ through the new Expo 2020 decals that will be installed on our aircraft.”

It isn’t just three aircraft though. In total, Emirates will emblazon 40 aircraft from its fleet, both Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s with the dedicated Expo 2020 decals starting in 2017 through to the end of Expo 2020 Dubai. This is in addition to every aircraft in Emirates’ fleet carrying a new Expo 2020 nose decal.

The Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre has installed a number of eye-catching decals on Emirates’ aircraft over the years including the majestic ‘United for Wildlife’ decals and a number of customised decals celebrating Emirates’ football partnerships and a global love for sports.