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The Cabin: New Cathay Pacific Hong Kong lounge

3th October 2010
Cathay Pacific Airways has opened a new lounge at its home base of Hong Kong. Called The Cabin it complements the original lounges of the Wing, the Pier, and G16, and is located by gate 23, about half way up the central pier – and equidistant between the other three lounges.
Hong Kong The Cabin Cathay Pacific lounge - The Deli
The Deli Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The Cabin lounge

Described by Cathay Pacific as “contemporary, refreshing and dynamic”, it is a move onwards from the design of the original Pier lounge, which is now looking a bit careworn. Indeed The Cabin features a cutting edge design so much on the edge of ultra-modern it could also be called achingly trendy.

For all it’s aspirations, the new lounge is separated into five fairly normal zones. Once past reception, there is a business centre (The IT Zone), a walk up food bar (The Deli zone), a long bar (The Health Bar Zone) and The Relaxing Zone – the new name for the trendy seating area, which features a blend of warm wood, bamboo, white marble and dark granite that builds on the airline’s existing lounge palette, apparently.
Cathay Solus Chair - Hong Kong The Cabin Cathay Pacific lounge
Cathay Solus Chair Hong Kong Cathay Pacific lounge

In The Relaxing Zone, there are, as you’d expect, chairs. The Oscar chair is designed by Pearson Lloyd and made by Walter Knoll. The alcoves contain Foster 503 arm chairs designed by Sir Norman Foster and again made by Walter Knoll which give a bit more privacy.

The biggest attraction in The Cabin is a new toy called the Cathay Solus Chair. Just incase you don’t spend enough time in one seat while you are on the plane, you can get the same experience on the ground. This is a purpose-built pod where you can eat, work and sit. Costing thousands of pounds, and after years of trials with Marco Polo Club members it is rather like a curved portaloo, with acres of red leather, with a flip-down table to eat your meals (also known as a shelf) and to complete the in-flight experience, there is a small TV screen in the form of an iPad, which comes pre-loaded with apps. There is even a power outlet (UK design 13 amp plugs only) for your inflight-laptop. Foster + Partners jointly created this unique chair, refined the chair’s functionality and ergonomics, and it has then been handcrafted by Poltrona Frau in Italy, before being air freighted in, which is the nearest this seat comes to flying.
Hong Kong The Cabin Cathay Pacific lounge - The Health Bar
The Health Bar Hong Kong Cathay Pacific The Cabin lounge

As if the leather on this chair wasn’t eye-popping enough, there is a 30 foot long glass wall with pulsating LED lights in the IT Zone. It is designed to provide an “energetic feel”, overhanging the Techno Bar, which isn’t a the king of Bavarian dance music as you might expect, but instead provides a caffeine fix while you use one of the 11 PCs, 6 Apple iMacs and 20 Apple iPads in addition to a video-conference room. The workstations are made from hardwearing black Italian stone and trimmed with stainless steel no less, while the painful sounding LEM piston stool t is easy swivel and has a small back on which to hang your techno jacket.

If you tire of these delights, there is a walk-up buffet with sandwiches. But not any sandwiches – these are Cathay Pacific sandwiches, from the All Day Deli no less. Taking its name from the economy class bag handed out in the late 90s by BA, The Deli offers made-to-order hot sandwiches, fresh antipasti and salads. The buffet counter and Deli are crafted from white Carrara marble and framed with a slatted bamboo wall to create a premium ambience. The dining tables are custom-made in white Corian and accompanied by the Catifa dining chair by Arper and leather banquette seats.

At The Deli, fresh food will be served up on the newly designed “Cathay Pacific Signature Plate”. This custom-made porcelain plate has a subtle abstract bamboo pattern and has been produced exclusively for Cathay Pacific by Noritake of Japan.

To complete the design, and to tick off all the flourishes, make sure you check out the reception wall made of Venetian glass tiles by Fabbian of Italy.
Cathay Pacific:
Details: cathaypacific.com/../pressroomdetails
Other Cathay Pacific stories:
New Cathay Pacific LHR lounge

The Cabin is a premium lounge open to First and Business Class passengers, Silver and above Marco Polo Club members, and Sapphire and above oneworld members. The 1,339-square-metre space is located by Gate 23, and opens at 0530 every morning until the last fright of the day.