Cathay Pacific has just added a new lounge to their network in Hong Kong. This lounge isn’t new – it’s “The Bridge“, which we last reviewed back in 2016, and closed in 2019. However, the lounge has undergone a major refresh to suit some of the airport’s newer lounges, and it could potentially rival The Pier as one of the business class lounges in the network.
Cathay Pacific’s New “The Bridge” Lounge Reopens
Cathay Pacific’s new The Bridge Lounge (located near Gate 35 at Hong Kong Airport) takes on the new look that you’ll see at The Pier, as well as some of Cathay Pacific’s newer outstation lounges. The lounge will feature updated seating, a bar with cocktails and barista coffee, a “Noodle Bar”, showers, and more.
Cathay Pacific The Bridge Lounge Hong Kong
There will also be a First Class area for the lounge, though I’m yet to hear more details on what catering will look like for the facility.
For comparison, the previous “The Bridge” lounge did look super cozy as well, though didn’t have an optimised amount of seating.
Cathay Pacific The Bridge Lounge 2016
“The Deck” will become a First Class lounge, “The Wing” will close
The new opening of “The Bridge” is no coincidence – this also coincides with the closure of one of Cathay Pacific’s other lounges. Specifically, “The Wing” near Gate 1 will close for a major renovation, with hope that it will reopen in a couple of years as the airline’s new flagship lounge.
Honestly, I’m quite glad that The Wing will close, and for business class passengers this isn’t much of a loss. The Wing was easily the worst out of Cathay Pacific’s lounges at Hong Kong Airport, and was easily overshadowed by its peers The Deck and The Qantas Lounge. I last reviewed The Wing in 2016, but last visited in 2023 – at this point the lounge was dated, the seating was uncomfortable, the showers weren’t operational anymore, and there wasn’t much reason to spend much time there.
Cathay Pacific The Wing Lounge Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific’s 2019 lounge The Deck, near Gate 6, will become a first class lounge, and catering will get an overhaul to match. While The Deck was a nice lounge, the neighbouring Qantas Lounge is so much better if you’re flying Cathay’s business class, and I’d definitely head to The Pier instead if I had a bit more time, so this also isn’t a major loss. In fact, I’d probably still head to The Pier if I had first class access, since it’s such a beautiful lounge.
Cathay Pacific’s The Deck Lounge will be reallocated for first class passengers
The new “The Bridge” has the potential to be a great lounge
The new “The Bridge” lounge opened today, so I’ve only heard “first impressions” reports from some of my friends being at the lounge. I remember first walking into The Pier nine years ago, and being so impressed by what the lounge managed to do with its size.
The Bridge has a fairly large footprint – it’s 27,000 sq. ft (2508 sq. m). While that’s not as big as The Pier, the lounge looks beautiful from the pictures above, and seems to have quite a few features as well. From the noodle bar, to the drinks bar with barista coffee, to showers, I can see waiting for a flight at The Bridge being a really good time. While I don’t see The Bridge replacing The Pier as the airport’s flagship lounge, I can’t wait to visit later this year, and feel like the lounge has the potential to be great.
Conclusion
Cathay Pacific has reopened The Bridge with a completely refurbished look, and the new lounge looks great. This replaces the aging The Wing lounge which is undergoing a major refresh, and complements The Pier as the airline’s second business class lounge. In the meantime, The Deck will become a first class lounge.
If you’ve visited The Bridge, how is the new lounge?