Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways, said: “We are grateful for these industry awards that recognise our commitment to delivering extraordinary customer experiences for our guests. Etihad is well-known for its pioneering design ethos and bringing innovation to the cabin environment, and we’re looking forward to 2025 where we will continue to build on this with new and industry-leading design concepts.”

Jonny Clark, Founder and CEO of The DesignAir, said: “For the second year running, Etihad has once again secured both Design Airline of the Year Middle East and our most prestigious accolade Design Airline of the Year, 2024. The airline hasn't stopped investing in the passenger experience recently, with new lounges, amenities and cabins enhancing the already impressive passenger experience. The team at Etihad have shown to TheDesignAir's judges an unwavering dedication to enhancing the design, comfort and aesthetics of the carrier. 

“From the airline’s lounges to the uniforms, Armani Casa amenities and soft product, Etihad left no stone unturned or detail to chance in creating a harmonious passenger experience that has Etihad's brand at its heart. A quiet, understated luxury is a refreshing change in the region, and Etihad has struck the right balance between luxury and opulence that leaves a lasting impression on its guests. We applaud Etihad for continuing to double down on the passenger experience in a period of growth and look forward to yet more design innovations and developments from the airline in 2025 and beyond.”

The third service will be operated with a newly retrofitted four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, equipped with the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy product and latest generation Business class seats.

The airline currently operates two non-stop daily flights between Dubai and Melbourne using four-class Airbus A380s, and a daily flight that connects Dubai to Melbourne via Singapore with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates’ operations between Singapore and Melbourne will cease on 30 March 2025, and the airline plans to operate the third direct Dubai-Melbourne flight and fourth Dubai-Singapore service with new flight numbers.

Vienna is the fourth city in the airline’s European network to receive its enhanced, four-class Boeing 777 aircraft.

The Business Class amenity kit collection, consisting of five pieces, is designed with a focus on sustainability, blending modern luxury with elegance. Each bag, inspired by Lanvin’s most iconic designs, is carefully crafted to be reusable and versatile for various purposes. The bags feature limited-edition Lanvin cosmetic products and meticulously selected contents to turn the journey of Turkish Airlines guests into a unique experience. The sets include a Hand & Body Lotion and a Lip Balm enriched with Cocoa Seed Oil, Shea Oil, Olive Shell Oil, and Coconut Oil to provide optimal hydration during flights.

Business Class amenity kit collection offers bags in brown, black, tan and cream options. Additionally, a wallet-style black and brown bag is provided on international Business Class flights lasting between five and eight hours.

All products within the kits are designed with sustainability in mind. The eye mask and socks are made from recycled materials, reducing the use of natural resources while maintaining comfort and style. The earplugs are packaged in paper to minimise single-use plastics, and the toothbrush is crafted from bamboo.

This will enable Air India to independently make design changes in-house and implement modifications to its aircraft interiors more efficiently.

Air India is the first airline in India to attain this level of authorisation, accelerating its ability to execute restoration tasks for continuous improvement of its fleet.

The DOA is a transformative step towards enhancing Air India’s in-house capabilities, which has been bolstered by decisions to set up its own engineering, maintenance and training facilities. This will enhance operational efficiency and make the airline more self-reliant.

Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer & managing director, Air India said, “India’s aviation sector is on a growth trajectory and Air India is playing a leading role in it. The approval reaffirms our capabilities to maintain our fleet and commitment to enhance customer experience of our aircraft interiors. The collaboration with Tata Technologies will help us meet customer expectations, aligning with our broader goals of operational excellence and self-reliance.”

IndiGoStretch’s first flight will commence on 14th November, 2024 on the Delhi-Mumbai route. 

IndiGo founder and managing director, Rahul Bhatia and CEO Pieter Elbers unveiled “IndiGo means Business” on the first IndiGoStretch aircraft.

Announced on the airline’s 18th anniversary, IndiGoStretch promises customers a relaxed and comfortable journey with a coupe-style, 2-seat wide bay, specially curated healthy meal options by the Chefs at Oberoi Flight Services, and premium seats designed by Recaro. With a spacious pitch of 38 inches and a width of 21.3 inches, the seats have a six-way adjustable headrest with neck support, 5 inch deep recline to relax, electronic device holder, 60-watt USB-Type C power supply, and a three-pin universal power outlet.

IndiGoStretch’s customers can enjoy complimentary benefits like priority check-in, anytime boarding, advance seat selection, and zero convenience fee. They will also get additional baggage allowance starting from 30 kg (two bags) in check-in and one bag of 12 kg in the cabin. 

Pieter Elbers, chief executive officer, IndiGo, said: “India’s economy is soaring and with the evolving aspirations of the Indian society, it is time for us to redefine accordingly. IndiGoStretch will create a desired option for many who are aiming to travel business, some of them seasoned and some perhaps for the first time in their life. It is an exciting time for Indian aviation and for IndiGo. By early January, all customers flying between Delhi and Mumbai will be on an IndiGoStretch aircraft and by March 2025, we would cover all flights from Delhi to Bengaluru and Chennai. In the next 14 months, 45 IndiGoStretch planes will be inducted in our fleet and we will ramp up to serve 12 routes with 268 daily flights.”

The airline aims to offer customers traveling on short flights more opportunities to experience its latest-generation products, in addition to raising the bar for premium travel, with Kuwait and Dammam becoming the second and third cities in the GCC to be served by the refurbished Emirates Boeing 777s.

Emirates’ enhanced Boeing 777s with the airline’s signature Premium Economy and next generation Business Class will operate as follows:

Kuwait: The retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777 will operate from 27 October.

Dammam: The refurbished Emirates Boeing 777 will operate from 22 November.

Dammam becomes the second destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be served with the retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777.

The Emirates Boeing 777 entered refurbishment in early July, and so far, six aircraft have fully rolled out into service, flying to Geneva, Zurich, Brussels, Haneda and Riyadh. The four-class configuration features 24 Premium Economy seats set in a 2-4-2 abreast layout. The 19.5-inch-wide cream leather seats consist of a 38-inch pitch, reclining 8 inches to stretch and relax, in addition to 6-way adjustable headrests.

The new Emirates Boeing 777 Business Class is inspired by the fresh, open and contemporary design elements of Emirates' iconic A380 experience, featuring soft leather cream seats accented with champagne trim, lighter wood panelling, a mini-bar, and other technology touches that deliver an elegant and engaging experience. Emirates will offer 38 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring every customer has direct access to the aisle. Seats convert to a spacious flatbed which reclines up to 78.6 inches. The Business Class seat’s 23-inch HD screen, one of the biggest in the skies, helps deliver the ultimate in-flight entertainment experience.

The Emirates Boeing 777 Business Class cabin will also include a small bar for light snacks and refreshments.

The new Economy Class cabin features 256 ergonomically designed seats in a colour palette of soft greys and blues.

Emirates will also be growing its network of cities featuring latest generation products in Business Class and Premium Economy, with the introduction of refurbished Boeing 777s on six routes in the US, including Chicago, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle, Athens/Newark and Miami/Bogota. Customers connecting from Kuwait and Dammam to the United States through Dubai can take advantage of a seamless experience across Premium Economy and Business Class cabins.

The solution highlights the potential for using sustainable materials in aircraft interiors. Located on the Pilatus static exhibit, AD115, the intricate mock-up features existing F/LAB bio-based materials alongside the latest addition to the portfolio, the new plant-based F/LAB Natural Oil varnish, as Pilatus emphasises the importance of sustainability within the cabin.

The transparent F/LAB Natural Oil minimises the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment while enhancing the grain and beauty of wood veneers. A subtle matt sheen and tactile finish highlight the natural patterns and whorls of the surface. The oil finish is engineered for durability with scratch and stain-resistant qualities, enabling regular usage with minimal maintenance.

The eco-friendly mock-up enables Pilatus to introduce customers to the next generation of sustainable interior materials available for its jet interiors. The PC-24 Super Versatile Jet exemplar features a contemporary cabinet, sidewalls, bulkhead and side ledge, which showcase the versatility of the products. The configuration perfectly balances the F/LAB Natural Oil American Walnut Veneer grain sample with the F/LAB Aenigma Eco bulkhead, which incorporates recycled stone dust, the F/LAB Whisper Leather lower side panel, a dramatic F/LAB Linfinium countertop incorporating precious marble remnants, and the natural lines of the F/LAB Fresco Décor on the upper side panel, which adds a subtle extra dimension to the cabin environment.

André Zimmermann, VP Business Aviation, Pilatus says, “We always seek to improve our customer offering and reduce our environmental footprint without compromising quality or performance. Through the collaboration with F/LIST, we are realising our commitment to sourcing effective products that reduce our carbon footprint, maintain our familiar aesthetic and support efficient operations by being durable, hygienic and easy to maintain. This ensures that the interiors remain pristine, and we’re excited to showcase the benefits to our customers.” Pilatus is the first aircraft manufacturer to employ F/LAB Natural Oil rather than synthetic varnishes.

The F/LAB represents the center of innovation for Austria-headquartered F/LIST and is a dynamic hub for creative thinking, cross-discipline collaboration, and imaginative experimentation where ingenious cutting-edge technology meets ecological responsibility. It now sits at the core of a new customer interaction strategy where customers, designers and F/LIST experts share the creative space to encourage the evolution of innovation, technology, and sustainability. 

“We are excited to showcase how the F/LAB materials harmonise to bring sustainability, style and sophistication into the cabin. The F/LAB sits at the epicenter of our business and, as an individual brand, embodies the home of creative ingenuity. The PC-24 Super Versatile Jet mock-up exemplifies the original thinking, manufacturing excellence and innovative spirit of both companies at a time when sustainability is more important than ever. We are pleased to evolve our long-standing relationship with Pilatus, which shares our game-changing vision that drives positive change in our sector,” adds Katharina List-Nagl, CEO of F/LIST.

The aircraft offers passengers the all-new Business Class cabin and Premium Economy seats.

The four-class Emirates Boeing 777 offers 24 Premium Economy seats arranged in a 2-4-2 layout with six-way adjustable headrests for added comfort and space. The upgraded Business Class cabin offers more privacy, with 38 seats in a spacious 1-2-1 configuration, and direct aisle access, a mini-bar and multiple charging ports, among other thoughtful features.

The aircraft also features six First Class suites. The refreshed Economy Class cabin has 256 ergonomic seats with leather headrests that can be adjusted vertically. Emirates aircraft fitted with Premium Economy will reach 48 by the end of this year, and will serve 27 destinations including Dubai, using Emirates’ fleet of B777s, A380s, and A350s.

The refit will lead to a refresh of the product to the new Air India experience

— with modern three-cabin configuration, new seats, new carpets, curtains and upholstery. The refit programme will start with the 27 narrowbody Airbus A320neo aircraft, followed by the 40 widebody Boeing aircraft.

The first narrowbody aircraft to commence the refit program is VT-EXN, a single-aisle A320neo that went into the hangar on Monday. After prototyping and necessary regulatory approvals, VT-EXN is expected to re-enter commercial service in December 2024, joining the eight recently-delivered and operational Air India A320neo aircraft that already feature the upgraded cabin interiors and configuration.

Following VT-EXN, between three and four aircraft per month will undergo retrofit, with upgradation of the full narrowbody fleet expected by the middle of 2025.

Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer & managing director, Air India, said: “The

commencement of interior refit of the narrow-body fleet is an important step in our journey of enhancing the flying experience of our customers. Over time, all the legacy widebody aircraft will also be refitted. This comprehensive upgradation of Air India’s physical product is an important component of Air India transforming into a world-class airline.”

The refitted A320neo aircraft will feature eight luxurious seats in Business, 24 extra legroom seats in Premium Economy and 132 comfortable seats in Economy.