Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.’s flagship first-class lounge is up and running again at Hong Kong International Airport, laying on the luxury for high-end travelers flying in and out of the hub after its long Covid shutdown.
Covering 22,180 square feet (2,060 square meters), roughly the size of eight tennis courts, Cathay’s The Pier, First offers massage and spa treatments, a bar, 14 showers and eight private rooms with runway views. The restaurant has table service, rather than the buffet-style setups in business-class lounges.
The lounge is next to Gate 63, one of the furthest away from the airport terminal. An escalator descends from the bright and airy concourse to a low-ceilinged, scented space. At a podium, two staff in Cathay uniform greet passengers and check credentials for entry. Beyond that, a hallway leads to the main room, which has nooks to the side for those in search of more privacy.
On the left, there’s a pantry with grab and go options such as pear tarts, macaroons, cold cuts and drinks. There’s also a horseshoe-shaped bar.
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At another reception desk, guests can book free massages, a shower or suite with a bed. The restaurant is at the end of the room. The menu includes Wagyu beef cheeseburgers, marinated century egg and handmade prawn and pork dumplings with wonton noodles. The beverage and wine list is extensive.
Passengers typically spend anything from a couple of hours to eight or more in first-class lounges, according to Cathay.
This lounge closed in 2020, just as Covid took hold. The Pier, Business lounge was also shuttered, as well as The Deck. Cathay’s two Wing lounges remained open but with limited services during the pandemic, which plunged the airline into the biggest crisis in its 76-year history and left Hong Kong International Airport largely deserted, denting its reputation as a bustling global hub.
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Hong Kong air travel still has a way to go in its recovery, with overall passenger numbers less than half of 2019 levels in June. Even so, that is a dramatic improvement from Cathay operating at less than 1% of pre-pandemic passenger capacity in the depths of the crisis. The reopening of the airport’s plushest lounge is another milestone on the path to recovery.
Hong Kong is hosting an event with the International Air Transport Association on Wednesday and Thursday. A key theme is air travel trends in the Greater Bay Area, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and southern Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai. Combined, the population tops 86 million.
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Cathay’s The Pier, First can accommodate 231 passengers, and not all need to be traveling first class. Entry is also open to top frequent fliers or people with similar status at partner airlines. Cathay plans to reopen lounges in Taipei and San Francisco this year, along with a new facility in Shenzhen to attract transit passengers to and from the Greater Bay Area.