Inside Cathay Pacific’s Best First-Class Lounge

Cathay Pacific has been on the offensive to rediscover its mojo and reclaim its cachet among luxury travelers since the pandemic. One of the centerpieces of the effort is the new flagship first-class lounge in Hong Kong, which opened to the public on Wednesday, nearly a year after it was closed for renovation.

There are a few different ways top-tier airlines can go when it comes to their nicest lounges, from formal affairs that follow luxury hotel conventions to more laid-back spaces designed to put travelers at ease. For its new offering, Cathay brought back British designer Ilse Crawford of Studioilse, whose portfolio includes Nordic hotels, restaurants in various European cities, as well as some high-profile spaces in Hong Kong, including Cathay’s own business lounge.