The accolades acknowledge Cathay's ongoing efforts to provide a superior travel experience for its premium travellers and highlight the positive customer reaction to new First Class cabin designs introduced last year.
“For the premium market you have to provide something that really stands out from the crowd, and with our new First Class, designed with the right balance of personal attention, interaction and privacy, we believe we are providing a travel experience which exceeds all expectations,” Cathay COO John Slosar said.
The awards also acknowledge the superior service provided by Cathay’s cabin crew, which come in varying degrees of superb right through their aircraft. An all-new “front of the bus” configuration is part of sweeping refurbishments and renewals in all classes of the airline's existing long and medium-haul fleet. It will be in place in all-new aircraft as they arrive between now and 2012.
When, like me, you are old enough to remember when “first class” meant a little more legroom, a wider seat, a few more menu choices, free drinks and bigger baggage allowance, it is easy to be excited by these latest developments. As you can see from our photograph, there is greater individual privacy and individual control over the immediate environment. The innovative seat can be used as an armchair, a chaise longue or an extra long and wide bed. Cathay's beds are among the biggest in the air.
Add subtle lighting, a bigger, more adjustable 17-inch personal TV and noise-cancelling headsets and cabin baggage stowage within your “suite” and you realise how things have improved.
OF WINGS, WARBIRDS AND WINES
IT is aimed squarely at vintage aviation enthusiasts but those interested in another kind of vintage can indulge to their hearts' content at next year's Wings Over Wairarapa, New Zealand's (and Australasia's) fastest growing air show.
The event, on January 17-18 is at Masterton, in the famed Wairarapa wine region, near capital Wellington. This will be its sixth year. Run by the New Zealand Sport & Vintage Aviation Society, there will be over 70 aircraft on display representing a spectacular visual account of the history of aviation in New Zealand and world aviation.
Major investment in the area by the Old Stick & Rudder Co and The Vintage Aviator Co has endowed the Wairarapa with some rare and celebrated aircraft. The venue's proximity (only and hour and a half by train or car or 30 minutes by chartered aircraft) to Wellington enables visitors to enjoy what is undoubtedly one of New Zealand's most exciting cities, while still being close enough to commute daily.
A dedicated air show train service runs to and from Wellington, as does a chartered flight service. January is also a high-availability period for capital accommodation and the number of daily Australasian services in and out Wellington International Airport make it an attractive weekend -away option.
The Wairarapa region is a major fresh, specialist food producer and popular pinoit noir palate pleaser. Other pastimes include hot-air ballooning, relaxation spas and a visit to Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre.
Back at the air show (which is why you're there?) events are not restricted to military aircraft with a huge variety of flying machines. It's all “straight up” as you can see from our amazing photograph of New Zealand's YAK aerial display team rehearsing for Wairarapa 2009.
For more information visit www.wings.org.nz or ask by email via info@wings.org.nz | 
