Cathay Pacific opens The Cabin, a new pre-flight business and first class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport that combines the best of practicality and design.

Although comfort in the air has long been high on the agenda of most international airlines, few do comfort on the ground quite like Cathay Pacific, whose existing award-winning lounges
at Hong Kong, The Pier, The Wing and G16, have seen millions of travellers on their way, fed, rested and ready for the riggers of long-haul travel.

The Cabin, located at Hong Kong International’s gate 23 between the two main CX departure lounges, is an expansive space at 1,339sqm, and has been designed by London’s acclaimed architects Foster + Partners. Divided into five distinctive spaces, The Cabin features innovative new seating and dining concepts, and according to the airline’s chief operating officer John Slosar,
highlights Cathay’s commitment to offering the highest level of product and service to its business and first class customers.

The five zones include the Reception, part check-in counter, part concierge; the IT zone; the Deli; a Health Bar; and a Relaxing Zone. The Reception is similar to any other lounge, but it’s the IT zone that makes this lounge so cutting edge. Boasting ultra-high-speed connectivity, 11 PCs, six Apple iMacs and 20 iPads, pre-loaded with a wide range of apps and information, there is also a videoconference room available for when work simply won’t wait.

Guests seated in the IT zone do so on the airline’s innovative custom-built Solus Chairs, which are perfectly suited for individual travellers who just want to zone out, with each chair doubling as a work and dining suite.

In the Deli, gone are the stale fish fingers and sad looking canapes of most airline lounges. Instead, guests can dine on made-to-order sandwiches and fresh antipasti and salad selections, served on signature plates created by Noritake of Japan. The famed Long Bar of the Pier and Wing has been renamed the Health Bar; it still served a good martini and ice-cold beers, but also offers
freshly squeezed juices and a selection of hot and cold Chinese teas.

The lounge still faces the same problems as other lounges; a solitary wayward child can test even the most resilient of noise reduction headphones and with Cathay and its oneworld partners offering so many flights out of Hong Kong, the lounge is rarely more tranquil than a bus station. In addition, the bar staff still think like they’re working in an airport lounge and not behind a bar (meaning every drink comes with its fair share of guesswork).

However, The Cabin is certainly a step in the right direction and savvy, regular travellers will
appreciate the cocoon-like nature of the new Solus chairs and the chance to eat right and eat well before jetting off.

The lounge is open to Cathay Pacific‘s First and Business class passengers, Silver and above Marco Polo Club members, and Sapphire and above oneworld members.

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