It was back in December that Cathay Pacific opened its first next-generation lounge. Situated in Tokyo Haneda’s International terminal near gate 114 on the highest passenger floor, it commands unparalleled views of not just the airport but also Tokyo’s skyline.
The lounge itself is a dramatic shift in design for the airline. Gone is the carrier’s cream palette with functional, red and green seating. Instead the new concept measures 990 square metres, making it one of the largest Cathay lounges outside Hong Kong, with capacity for 189 people. It has warm, rich finishes and textures employed throughout by the London-based interior designer Studioisle with retro-inspired furniture pieces mixed in.
With only two flights a day from the airline and one from partner Dragonair, there is no problem finding somewhere to call your own. The space is split into several areas all offering the vibe of a private members’ club. There is arelaxing zone, a dining environment and centrally located stand-up bar and bistro area.
For business travellers, there is a business centre, featuring iMacs and printers, and washrooms that unfortunately don’t feature showers. Those who need them can head downstairs to the newly opened JAL lounge. Wi-Fi, available throughout the lounge, is fast and simple to access and designer side tables have a pull-out drawer full of charging points.
As for dining options, there is a bistro-style counter as well as the main noodle bar, where glossy tiles frame a large and expansive counter. I enjoyed the Dan Dan noodles and Japanese steamed fish with rice and miso soup.
There is also a rather beautiful cocktail bar, hidden behind cherry wood panels.
This is why the lounge really comes into its own at night thanks to atmospheric lights that transform it into an intimate lounge. It’s just a shame that there’s only one flight in the evening.
Cathay offers connecting flights to Tokyo Haneda from Dubai, Bahrain and Doha via Hong Kong. A business class return fare from Dubai to Tokyo starts at Dh8,515.
q& a comfort for those on the move
Toby Smith, general manager, product, for Cathay Pacific, tells Jonny Clark more about the airline’s new lounge at Tokyo Haneda’s International terminal:
Why the change in lounge design?
We ask our passengers what they are feeling about our products constantly and there was a feeling that the current lounges were a little cold, and they wanted something a little more relaxed and residential to make them feel at ease.
How would you describe the new concept?
It’s very warm; there is a lot of timber, cherry wood, bronze and grass finishes along with very comfortable furniture. We are no longer fussed about having an iconic chair (the Solus workstation pod was designed for Cathay passengers to work in privacy and comfort).
The lounges are just one part of a larger brand change. What other elements can we expect to see?
We are trying to remove the clutter in our airport signage, and make the passenger experience better. This will happen over the next few months as part of our new brand.
How important a part is the design element of the passenger?
It’s a very important part, but it’s a combination. The hard product can always be copied and the seat we have is already on other aircraft with slightly different skins and different iterations. So for Cathay it’s a combination of hard product and service, which is harder to copy.
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