Cathay Pacific Airways said Boeing needs to remain transparent about any delays in its aircraft delivery schedule in order to let the Hong Kong carrier adapt its plans accordingly. “We value openness and trust along the way,” Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer, said in an interview at a company event in Hong Kong on Wednesday. “For us, it’s important that we keep our communications, and they be very open with us in terms of what is the next step.” Boeing said late last week that its new 777X widebody aircraft would only enter service in 2026. That’s more than five years behind the original timeframe, forcing customers around the world to reconsider their fleet plans, which often means using older planes for longer. Lau said she can’t say yet what the implications of the delay will be, and whether it concerns only some aircraft. Cathay is among a half-dozen Asian airlines to have bought Boeing’s new long-range jet, having placed 21 orders. Singapore Airlines Ltd., Air India and ANA Holdings Inc. are also among the marquee customers. The Boeing 777X will be Cathay’s only aircraft type to eventually fly with a new first class on key intercontinental routes. The plan will play a major role to help the carrier expand as Hong Kong International Airport starts operating three runways from the end of the year.<br/>
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On Emirates, passengers in business class have a bartender to mix a cocktail mid-flight. Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. offers the Loft Lounge, a sky-high saloon where travelers can relax on red leather banquettes. Now Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. is introducing an airborne art gallery. Hong Kong’s flag carrier revealed its refreshed business class cabin on Wednesday evening, part of a $12.9b multi-year outlay on new planes and upgraded lounges. One differentiating factor: The “Gallery in the skies,” a curated art selection of 30 works featuring artists with unique connections to Hong Kong. Each piece will offer a different perspective on nature, with “a calming energy that draws one into the artist’s world.” It’s part of Cathay’s quest to introduce a sense of quiet luxury, this much-hyped aesthetic exuding confident affluence without being ostentatious. No golden fixtures or faux wood paneling in sight. Instead, Cathay has refined the gray and green color palette that was prevalent in its older business-class cabins with a silver marble hue as the mainstay of the seat. “Everyone’s moved on to have a door, a big TV, but it’s really the execution that makes the difference,” said Vivian Lo, who spearheaded Cathay’s new business-suite overhaul. The new seat, dubbed The Aria Suite, has been six years in the making. It’s the first time Cathay has pivoted to suites in business class, swelling the ranks of airlines globally with privacy doors as the gold standard. Qatar Airways has them in their QSuite, and Japan Airlines Co. as well as Air France have followed suit. As for the seat itself, Cathay won’t actually disclose how wide and long the berth is. It’s not exactly a state secret, but they’re not letting on. <br/>
Qantas has announced a raft of changes to its overseas network, including deploying its Airbus A220s on its first international route, as well as boosting capacity to North America by about 13%. The airline says its network boost comes as more A220s enter its fleet, coupled with the return to service of its last two A380s. In total, the Oneworld carrier will add around 200,000 international seats across a 12-month period from February 2025. The airline will launch five weekly flights between Darwin and Singapore with the A220, replacing the Embraer E190s that were originally meant to operate the route. It is also the A220’s first international route since its entry into Qantas’ fleet in February this year. Qantas was to begin flying from Darwin to Singapore in November, but has pushed back the launch date to March, allowing it to utilise its A220s. Qantas currently has four A220s in its fleet, operating them on domestic and regional routes in Australia. The airline also expects its remaining two A380s to return to service in 2025 after being parked during the pandemic. This would allow Qantas to deploy the A380 on flights between Sydney and Dallas Fort-Worth from August 2025, after a hiatus of about five years. The route is currently flown daily with Boeing 787-9s, and will see a mix of 787 and A380 flights from August next year.<br/>