You would be forgiven for not flying with Cathay Pacific from the UAE considering the wealth of carriers operating the routes to Hong Kong. But since their significant investment last May into their new premium cabins, the Asian airline is certainly worth a second look.
With return flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai starting at about Dh7,020, Cathay Pacific is a leading airline for good reason and you can instantly see the difference on check-in, which is effortless and friendly. With a generous 30 kilogram luggage allowance, you won’t struggle to pack everything in either.
On-board the A330 aircraft that operate the route, you will see the real game changer. The new cabins, which have been almost fully rolled out across the fleet, are all about personal space. Unlike the previous “more restrictive” incarnation of the business class cabin, the new herringbone format faces passengers either to the windows or to each other in the middle seats (but still with the opportunity for privacy). The new format allows beds to be longer, more secluded, and means each seat has aisle access, a welcome difference from other carriers on the route.
A full business class menu serves a variety of Asian and western meals and a beverage list offers plenty of options. But it is the meals that really stand out: a starter of mixed hot smoked salmon salad is followed by a main of steamed halibut with spiced termite mushrooms and a dessert of pistachio mousse cake. For breakfast there is a choice of omelette with potatoes and shimeji mushrooms or dim sum with chilli sauce.
As for comfort, with the seat reaching up to 80 inches long when extended into a fully flat bed with the armrest down, the feel is relaxing and spacious. While there are no massage functions, the seat padding is supportive, and at no point during the flight do you feel uncomfortable.
There are a variety of charging points for electronic devices, including a USB port, and the large touch-screen TVs are filled with a plentiful selection of movies and TV series (but nothing in comparison to the Emirates ICE system).
In all, the airline is most definitely an equal to the opulent Middle Eastern carriers and offers a different, quieter luxury that makes for a relaxing experience when headed on to Hong Kong and beyond.
business@thenational.ae
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
AIR
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
The Kites
Romain Gary
Penguin Modern Classics
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
World%20Food%20Day%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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