What's new at Cathay Pacific

By David Flynn, February 15 2011

Cathay Pacific’s flagship lounge at Hong Kong International Airport is taking on a slick new look.

After months of renovation work The Wing will soon start a phased section-by-section reopening which will gradually reveal new facilities in both the business and first class areas.

One of the most practical is a dramatic increase in the number of showers, from 16 to 41 across both lounges.

"With Hong Kong being a popular hub and a transit point, during peak times the showers are at a premium” explains Derek Morris, Cathay Pacific’s Sales & Marketing Manager for Australia.

“We have people connecting out of Australia and going through to Europe for business. Even if it’s just a two-hour stopover in Hong Kong that’s plenty of time for a shower and a meal, then they can get off in Europe and go straight into town.”

The lounge’s total area and seating capacity have also been boosted to help cope with demand in those peak times.

“You don’t want people coming into a packed lounge and thinking ‘I’d rather be outside!’” Morris told Australian Business Traveller.

The Wing’s redesign was handled by the same London architectural firm Foster + Partners which created The Cabin (located by Gate 23 on the airport’s central concourse), so it shares many common traits.

This includes 45 of the workstation-like Solus Chairs, designed by Foster + Partners for Cathay Pacific to provide a private space where individual travellers can eat, work or relax. A number of classic Chesterfield lounges will provide a counterpoint to the array of Solus Chair pods and anchor The Wing’s more traditional look and feel.

The Noodle Bar in Business Class is joined by a new Coffee Loft cafe with an expanded hot and cold buffet.

The first class area gets a champagne bar adjacent to the reception lounge, along with a new cocktail bar and a much larger restaurant.

There’s also a boost in the number of cosy private Cabana rooms – where a chaise-style chair, soaking tub and soft lighting provide tired travellers with a welcome haven during long stopovers between even longer flights.

The Wing is open to Cathay’s premium passengers as well as Qantas and oneworld equivalents – Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum and oneworld Emerald qualify for the first class section of The Wing while Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold and oneworld Sapphire get into the business class area.

Once The Wing is fully opened, renovation work will commence on its sister lounge The Pier at the far end of the airport’s northwest concourse.