The airline with the world's best lounges has raised the bar again

Cathay Pacific has unveiled its redesigned flagship lounge and it's simply exquisite.

Airline Ratings

By Airline Ratings Mon Apr 20, 2026

The newly refurbished Cathay Pacific The Wing, First Class Lounge has been designed in line with its ethos to deliver meticulously designed spaces which evoke the comfort of an elegant residence but with all the functionality a passenger needs.

From the moment passengers enter The Wing, First, they are greeted with opulence, refined touches, and the familiarity of other Cathay Pacific lounges, thanks to its colour and design scheme. Located near departure gates 1-4, and just left of the immigration exit point, the lounge has capacity for 237 passengers throughout the 1,675 square metre space.

The Wing, First showers use water and lighting technologies that allow customers to set modes to cleanse, refresh or relax.


The renovated lounge is just another example of why Cathay Pacific was awarded as having the World’s Best Airline Branded Lounges by AirlineRatings.com for 2026.


Speaking at the unveiling event, Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam said Cathay Pacific has a vision to be the world’s best premium airline, with over 100 billion Hong Kong dollars of investment going toward fleet, digital innovation, cabin and lounge products.

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam (middle), Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau (third from left), Cathay Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan (third from right), Cathay Director Customer Travel Erica Peng (second from left) and Cathay Director Service Delivery Mandy Ng (second from right) attended the unveiling ceremony of the airline’s redesigned flagship lounge The Wing, First.

Human-centric design that considers the whole journey

Marcus Lui, Head of End-to-End Customer Experience & Strategy, explained to AirlineRatings.com the truly Human-Centric design behind their lounges. He noted that space planning, menu design, furniture selection and design, lighting and hospitality are all considered with very clear functional and emotional outcomes in mind.

“We research how they [customers] feel, and therefore what they need when they arrive at our lounges, and the how they want to feel when they leave to board their flights. For example, we have business travellers who may have had a long day of stressful meetings after checking out of their hotels, with hours to spare before heading home on their long haul flights at midnight, or we have families who may have travelled on ground transport and ferry for a few hours from Macau or Greater Bay Area before they reach the airport for their long-awaited vacation – what are their priorities at our lounges, and how would they want to feel by the time they board their flight?”

Speaking at the event, CEO Sharon Petersen said: “Cathay Pacific has once again set an international benchmark with its The Wing, First Class lounge. There are many excellent lounges around the world, but what Cathay Pacific does so well, and what this reveal emphasises, is the consistency, understated luxury and functionality it delivers across its global lounge network. At present, in this space, Cathay Pacific is leading the way and will be hard to beat.”

A closer look at The Wing, First Class Lounge

The Atrium acts as the central focal point of the entire lounge, designed to foster a sense of space and connection where passengers can pause and recharge. The Atrium is dynamic throughout the day, offering breakfast in the morning, tea sets in the afternoon, and turns into a stylish bistro in the evening, offering fine wines.

The Dining Room

Different to its The Pier, First lounge, Cathay Pacific’s new lounge features a rotating menu of Asian and international à la carte dishes. The Dining Room is separate from the rest of the lounge, creating an enclosed and private dining experience.

The Dining Rooms offers Chinese, Western, and Wellness breakfast sets, as well as international classics. Menu options include poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce, healthy acai bowls, and regional Chinese and Asian dishes. Cathay Pacific’s famous signature wonton noodles and dan dan noodles are available all day, alongside amuse-bouche for added luxury.

The Pantry offers extensive food options

As the reel below shows, The Pantry offers a vast array of self-service food options. You will also find here arguably the best cheesecake in the world.

Wellness and Relaxation and Privacy

The Retreat, first introduced at The Pier, First, is now available at The Wing, First. Featuring handcrafted wood panels, bespoke furniture and ambient lighting, the tranquil space offers seven private booths where customers can enjoy a foot or neck and shoulder massage to relax and recharge before their flights.

Wellbeing is further elevated through a large shower suite where innovative water and lighting technologies allow customers to set the modes to cleanse, refresh or relax according to their moods.

No matter how a customer is feeling when they enter the lounge they are guaranteed to leave feeling satisfied, rejuvenated and relaxed. As a side note, if you’re an avid runway watcher, you’re in for a real treat, with lounges positioned next to or above the apron.

Have questions or want to share your thoughts?

Airlines mentioned in this article

Want to find out more about the airlines mention in this article?

Comments

No comments yet, be the first to write one.

Latest news and reviews

View more
JetBlue has secured loans in a bid to survive as costs rise
Airline News

JetBlue has secured loans in a bid to survive as costs rise

Apr 22, 2026

Dev Lunawat
Spirit Airlines faces imminent collapse as fuel prices soar
Airline News

Spirit Airlines faces imminent collapse as fuel prices soar

Apr 18, 2026

Dev Lunawat
The world's best economy class is getting even better
Airline News

The world's best economy class is getting even better

Apr 16, 2026

Sharon Petersen
flyadeal unveils its A330neo cabin configuration
Airline News

flyadeal unveils its A330neo cabin configuration

Apr 15, 2026

Josh Wood

Featured articles

View more
The world's best economy class is getting even better
Airline News

The world's best economy class is getting even better

Apr 16, 2026

Sharon Petersen
These airlines have the world’s most cramped economy cabins
Airline News

These airlines have the world’s most cramped economy cabins

Apr 9, 2026

Josh Wood
World's safest airline rankings for 2026
Airline News

World's safest airline rankings for 2026

Jan 13, 2026

Airline Ratings
World's Best Airline Cabin Awards 2026
Airline News

World's Best Airline Cabin Awards 2026

Mar 18, 2026

Airline Ratings