Cathay Pacific has unveiled its new business class set-up, the Aria Suite, which will feature in the airlines 30 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft linking up Europe and Asia, most notably on daily flights from London to Hong Kong
The new Aria Suite from Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific has unveiled its latest business class suites, which are available on certain long-distance flights.
Are they worth it? That is surely the first question you’ll likely ask about the Aria Suite, which was shown to the public at a fancy Theatre Royal Drury Lane event this week. They will be available on 30 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft linking up Europe and Asia, most notably on daily flights from London to Hong Kong.
The question is probably only relevant if you’re a Premier League footballer, lottery winner or spend your time doing something else that brings in lots of cash. Flying one way from London Heathrow to Hong Kong in business class next month would set you back at least £3,600.
If you were the lucky soul who won £83million on the EuroMillions this week, then that sum for 16 hours in what was recently crowned the Best New Business Class at TheDesignAir Awards may feel like a bargain. If you’re not but need to get to Hong Kong in a hurry, then an economy seat for a third of the price is probably the better option.
Ahead of its launch I got to cosplay as a jetsetting businessman and put the Aria Suite through its paces, although very much not at 30,000 feet.
Instead, I was given a tour of the many smart pockets and storage units that surrounded a mocked-up version of the seat. If you’re like me and feel the need to be surrounded by several jumpers, an eye mask, a couple of books, a charger and numerous other bits and bobs when flying, then these will be preferable to the always slightly dubious, potentially sticky back-of-seat pocket. These are illuminated with soft inner lighting fixings so you don’t have to grope around in the dark.
You’re unlikely to actually need any of the additional entertainment you may have brought with you as a sizeable 24-inch 4K monitor is stationed in front of your perch.
The biggest reason people splash out the same amount of money as a decent second-hand car on a single journey is comfort and the increased likelihood of getting a good sleep. This is clearly the Aria Suite’s major strength.
I hopped onto the seat in the trial suite and imagined myself spending the next 16 hours there. It’d be a piece of toast, particularly once the lighting is turned down low and the electric motors on the seat bring it back to a lying position. Both are controlled by a nifty electric panel next to the armrest. A privacy door, wrap-around seat design, and sliding partitions between seats mean you can lock out the world.
“We have a very clear product lifecycle strategy,” Vivian Lo, general manager of customer experience and design at Cathay, explained.
“Each plane is on a schedule for us to bring in fresh new products, to ensure that we deliver on our ambition to be one of the world’s greatest service brands – and, from there, the best premium airline. We wanted to create a different feeling in each cabin, but also something holistic and connected.”
Elliott Koehler, creative director at JPA Design, was involved with the redesign. “We wanted to create a different feeling in each cabin, but also something holistic and connected. It’s thoughtfully designed and effortlessly intuitive. That’s what truly sets us apart,” he said.
Cathay is about to launch new routes from Munich, Brussels and Rome, meaning there will soon be close to 100 return flights per week between Europe and Hong Kong.