Nothing wakes me up after a 15-hour long-haul flight from New York quite like having a bowl of freshly-made dan dan noodles, a decadent egg tart (or four), and a hot cup of elegant jasmine tea while taking in views of the majestic mountain landscape of Hong Kong. Those aromatic flavors, that striking blue-green horizon shrouded in mist, all of it reminds me that I’m back in Asia, the region that I grew up in and will always feel like home. It’s a real treat to be able to embrace that feeling of familiarity and belonging—all without leaving the airport.
That’s the experience I had this past winter: On my way to visit my family in Manila, I passed through Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and spent an eight-hour layover at Cathay Pacific’s freshly redesigned business class lounge, The Bridge. It first opened back in 2013, but then the airline closed the lounge “permanently” during the pandemic. However, Cathay Pacific announced plans to renovate it as business travel picked back up.
The Bridge officially reopened in May 2025, just in time to celebrate the airline’s 80th anniversary this year. It also coincides with the launch of the airline’s new business class product, the Aria Suite (currently available on flights between Hong Kong and San Francisco, London, Frankfurt, Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo-Haneda, and Vancouver daily; and Milan three times weekly).
Frequent Cathay fliers like me have historically loved The Bridge for its panoramic views of Hong Kong’s mountainous islands and its central location in HKG’s Terminal 1, near Gate 35. It’s one of Cathay’s three business class lounges, in addition to The Wing, Business near Gate 2 and The Pier, Business, near Gate 65. With room for more than 500 passengers over 29,000 square feet, there’s plenty of room at The Bridge for business class passengers on Cathay who want to stop by.
Finding the lounge is easy, as plenty of signs point the way toward The Bridge. On my visit, I descended an escalator to the main entrance and was welcomed by Cathay Pacific team members who validated my boarding passes and explained the lounge’s layout, which is divided into two wings. Both have wall-to-wall windows that grant sweeping views of the airport’s apron, runway, and the mountains beyond, allowing for tons of natural light. Far from a depressing gray room located in a basement, The Bridge and its massive windows put a spotlight on the natural beauty of Hong Kong. The interior design—all rich-colored woods, forest green sofas, warm lighting, and thoughtful tech touches (discreet electrical plugs in the side tables!)—give the impression of a really chic home or residential-style hotel. The look is very much giving Hong Kong’s The Upper House, designed by Hong Kong native André Fu: stylish, calming, understated yet full of character.
