Cathay Pacific has reopened The Wing First, its flagship first class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, after an extensive renovation that began in 2023. The relaunched space welcomed its first guests in late April 2026 and is again positioned as one of the world's most exclusive airline lounges.
What is new
The big visual change is the disappearance of The Wing's iconic individual cabanas, the bath suites that became a signature of the lounge when it first opened. They have been replaced by a new wellness suite called The Retreat, offering complimentary spa treatments and refreshed shower rooms with rainfall heads, marble vanities and Bamford toiletries.
Cathay has also added a circular marble whisky bar at the centre of the dining area, redesigned the noodle bar that serves the airline's celebrated dan dan noodles, and rebuilt the apron-facing windows so almost every seat now has a view of widebody aircraft at gates 1 to 16. The signature Hong Kong skyline mood is preserved through warm wood paneling, brass detailing and ambient lighting designed by Studio Ilse.
Tighter access policy
The reopening also sharpens the access list. The Wing First is now reserved for Cathay's own first class passengers, top-tier Diamond Plus members and select corporate VIPs. Oneworld Emerald members and oneworld first class passengers travelling on partner carriers will be redirected to The Pier First Class lounge, which sits at the other end of Terminal 1 and remains open to a wider audience.
Why it matters
The reopening positions Cathay alongside Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Emirates in the very small group of carriers operating bespoke standalone first class lounges. With Cathay restoring its A380-replacement first class cabin on the upcoming Boeing 777-9 fleet, The Wing First is being pitched as the on-the-ground anchor of that premium product, particularly for the airline's North America, London and Paris services where first class demand has rebounded.
Compiled from publicly available aviation news sources. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. This article is original editorial content; facts have been verified across multiple public sources.
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