A sliding privacy door, wireless charging, and an art gallery 12,000 metres in the air.
These are just some of the features of Cathay Pacific’s newly launched Aria Suite which the airline unveiled in a glitzy ceremony last Wednesday, Oct 16.
Together with the airline’s valued customers, top Cathay executives, and other special guests including Hong Kong actress Fala Chen, Lifestyle Asia was one of the media titles invited to the special event at a hangar facility at Hong Kong International Airport.
More than being a stunner (the understated and elegant design epitomises quiet luxury), Cathay Pacific’s newly launched Aria Suite clearly has customer experience at the heart of its design and conception.
No effort has been spared by the airline in reimagining an inflight environment that ensures the privacy and comfort of its passengers.
As Vivian Lo, general manager of customer experience and design for Cathay Pacific said, “When creating The Aria Suite, we took a lot of care into creating a cocoon oasis of personal space.”
Personal suite
While popular features of Cathay Pacific’s existing business class cabins like the reverse herringbone arrangement of 1-2-1, generous bed, and ample storage space have been kept, features to enhance privacy like a sliding door have been added to turn the business class seat into a suite.
At the preview of the refitted 777-300ER during the event, I slid into one of the middle Aria Suite seats. I put up the divider and pulled the sliding door! Et Voila! With the high seat back shell, I felt cloistered from all the other “passengers” onboard. I could work or sleep in complete isolation.
Convenience at your fingertips
If, like me, you are someone who struggles with too many buttons for different settings for different lightings and seat inclination, you will find the new Aria Suite’s pre-set modes a lifesaver.
With one touch, I chose the “movie” mode”. My seat and lighting were adjusted instantly to give me the most comfortable combo for watching a movie.
For other “activities” like taxi, take-off, landing, reading, watching a movie, working, sleeping, or landing, I could also select the best possible seat and lighting combo by simply tapping on the touchscreen controls.
On the subject of inflight entertainment, the Aria Suite builds on Cathay Pacific’s award-winning inflight entertainment experience by providing customers with a 24-inch 4K ultra high-definition screen — the largest ever offered by the airline.
Put things away
Storage space is given a further boost in the new Aria Suite.
I was amazed at the multi-tier storage compartments. There is a side cabinet that sits right by the passenger’s side on the upper console with a bespoke headphone hook, a tray for water bottle stowage, an enclosed mirror in the door; side stowage, and my favourite: a sliding drawer.
I love being able to tuck away properly the last bits of things I like to take off before I sleep on a flight, and put on as soon as I wake. These are things like my glasses and watch.
The sliding drawer on the Aria Suite’s console opens and closes with a push button. Putting my fragile necessities away into the drawer will give me peace of mind – I know that they won’t slide off the console and get damaged during moments of turbulence. There is even an internal light so that I can see the contents of the drawer clearly and easily find any tinier bits and bobs I have put away.
While it provides space for your handbag or laptop which you might want by your side, the side stowage with a leather lid also extends the surface area of your bed when closed.
Enhanced experience
Can’t stand wires running all over your console? Wireless charging is available. Just place your phone on the upper marble-style console surface that has a built-in wireless charger.
Ever struggle with looking for things that you have accidentally swept or kicked into the footwell? You are unlikely to have this problem in the Aria Suite because there is a light in the footwell.
The lavatory is not forgotten in this upgrade. The sleek, spacious and minimalistic-looking toilet now features a touchless flush, a foot-activated waste bin and an infrared-activated faucet. The wash basin is also wider which means less water spillage – great for those who count wet lavatory floors among their pet peeves – like me . There is also more countertop space to place your toiletries while washing up.
Designed for the design-conscious
When bathed in soft ambient lighting, the cabin with suede walls inside the wraparound shell and upholstery in muted-toned natural wool fabrics look elegant and refined. The main body of the seat is made of wool, while the headrest and ottoman that extends the length of the bed are made of leather. Besides ensuring a restful experience surrounded by comfort for the passenger, the chic colour combo and clean lines are also pleasing to the eye.
Art lovers will appreciate the “Gallery in the Skies” in the Aria Suite cabin. The gallery will feature a collection of 30 pieces by artists such as Elaine Chiu, and Gordon Cheung, all with a connection to Hong Kong.
Improved experience for other cabins
On the refitted 777-300ER, there will be 45 seats in business class in two zones, 48 seats in a newly introduced premium economy, and 268 passengers in economy.
The cabins in these classes will have added features to enhance privacy and the inflight experience.
To start, privacy for the premium economy passengers is enhanced with a winged headrest, and a small divider at arm level – so that the passengers in the centre-most seats don’t have to “fight” for the armrest.
The refreshed economy class will have updated dress covers, improved front-row ergonomics, and additional overhead bin space.
These improved features are just the tip of the iceberg for the premium economy and economy class passengers.
When can we expect to fly in the Aria Suite?
Cathay Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau has earlier announced that the airline has committed over HK$100 billion over the next seven years to improving aircrafts, cabins, lounges and more. Cathay Pacific will also introduce a pioneering First class experience on their 777-9 aircraft in the future.
The first flight with a retrofitted 777-300ER with the Aria Suite took off on Oct 18 from Hong Kong to Beijing.
Cathay Pacific will be retrofitting 30 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft progressively. The retrofitted aircraft will be launched first on regional routes, including Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Singapore and Tokyo. From early next year, it will be deployed on long-haul flights to destinations in Europe, Southwest Pacific and North America. We are waiting with bated breath.
Find out more about Cathay Pacific’s new Business class, the Aria Suite here.
