Why Cathay won’t bring back its Hong Kong arrivals lounge
However, Plaza Premium will cut the ribbon on its new HKG Arrival Lounge in the middle of this year.
By David Flynn, February 12 2026
Executive Traveller exclusive
Cathay Pacific has ruled out opening a new Arrival Lounge at Hong Kong, even if the relocation of other airlines to the adjacent Terminal 2 frees up more space at its Terminal 1 home.
“We’ve looked at it many, many times” says Guillaume Vivet, Cathay’s General Manager of Customer Experience Design.
“(But) it’s not something our customers necessarily value, and they’ve told us that time and time again.”
Vivet cites Hong Kong International Airport’s proximity to the city and the ease of getting from HKG to hotel or home.
“Whether you travel by taxi, your own car, the Airport Express, etcetera, we are very close to the centre of Hong Kong”, Vivet tells Executive Traveller.
It was rare to see Cathay's Hong Kong arrivals lounge this uncrowded.
Cathay Pacific long maintained an Arrival Lounge in the walkway connecting T1 and T2, but its popularity among premium passengers whose flights touched down in the morning saw the compact space frequently overcrowded.
And the temptation of a refreshing shower after an overnight flight soon lost its charm when confronted with a long waiting list.
Cathay shuttered its Hong Kong arrivals lounge in 2018.
Cathay closed the lounge in 2018 due to pending redevelopment of the terminal, noting at the time that “options for an alternative location are limited and not suitable.”
Fresh Cathay lounges for Hong Kong, New York
In 2026, Cathay will redraw its loungescape with the reopening of The Wing First over the coming months, followed by an all-new flagship lounge at New York’s JFK Terminal 6.
The Wing First will launch an “evolution” of what has become Cathay’s signature lounge design.
Vivet says The Wing First will retain “the residential feel that we love and our customers love, and the DNA that we wanted to keep, but with its own character as The Wing.”
The Wing First will lose its private Cabana suites.
This will include what Vivet describes to Executive Traveller as “a brand new dining concept” alongside the à la carte restaurant, while the five spa-like Cabana suites will make way for a new “wellness” proposition.
Read more: Cathay’s new-look The Wing first class lounge
On the other side of the Pacific, the JFK lounge – Cathay’s first in New York – will have room for around 200 passengers, with “a dedicated zone for first class customers as well as our Diamond members,” Vivet says, replicating an exclusive space at Hong Kong’s The Bridge lounge.
Premium passengers will also enjoy the convenience of direct boarding from the lounge to their awaiting plane.
Read more: Cathay Pacific New York JFK lounge set for mid-year opening
Plaza Premium to open Hong Kong Arrival Lounge
However, in good news for bleary-eyed jetsetters, Plaza Premium is bringing back its own Hong Kong arrivals lounge.
A spokesperson for the global lounge operator has confirmed to Executive Traveller that the Plaza Premium Arrival Lounge at Hong Kong will reopen by mid-2026.
This hoarding at HKG promotes the return of the Plaza Premium Arrival Lounge.
It will be in the same location as the previous lounge, which was shuttered in 2019 and sat almost directly opposite the Cathay Pacific arrivals lounge, but will showcase Plaza Premium’s fresh ‘Art of Travel’ concept.
Visitors can expect workspaces, fast Wi-Fi, continental breakfast and light lunch, and of course private shower suites.
Complimentary access will be available through a number of lounge programs and credit cards, along with paid access which can be booked online ahead of time.
As a benchmark, rates for the 24-hour Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge at the time of its 2019 closure were set at HK$200 for a quick shower or HK$270 for a shower & breakfast package.
Those are roughly in line with the Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3, which today charges £22 (HK$235) for a 30-minute shower session, rising to £36 (HK$385) for full use of the lounge for two hours.
Also read: More legroom in Cathay’s big economy revamp
05 Jul 2016
Total posts 25
“ it’s not something our customers necessarily value, and they’ve told us that time and time again.”
Who are these customers who repeatedly beg airlines for fewer benefits and fewer convenience options?
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 601
It's probably done in a survey where passengers are asked to rank things they value, with some bigger or more important items also on the list, and so the arrivals lounge gets marked down by default, because for sure if CX asked a passenger "would you like an arrivals lounge" the answer would be "yes". But if you ask how they "value" it and associate it with other options, which is the reality of limited budgets and capex, then the arrivals lounge would probably sit lower down the list.
05 Jul 2013
Total posts 10
"It's not something our customers necessarily value"
"its popularity among premium passengers whose flights touched down in the morning saw the compact space frequently overcrowded.
Aren't these two statements contradictory? How can the previous lounge have been overcrowded if nobody valued it?
Reminds me of the old Yogi Berra quote - Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 219
Yes fellow readers, it's all about the almighty $ and profits using the wonders of reverse positive marketing. Lets erode another First Class benefit while we quietly increase the fares - as apparently this is what our customers want and have asked for!!!!!!!!
As always, loyal customers will make their evaluations and ultimately choose the best value for their dollar which may lie with a competitor.
14 Feb 2026
Total posts 1
"its popularity among premium passengers whose flights touched down in the morning saw the compact space frequently overcrowded
+
it’s not something our customers necessarily value, and they’ve told us that time and time again."
so can i correctly assume that the survey was done (mostly/only) among customers who arrive beyond morning hours? lol
13 Nov 2020
Total posts 7
If the space was overcrowded, then the lounge is not big enough. And just the airport is close to the city does not mean your room will be ready for those who arrive in the morning. This is a big miss in my opinion.
Qantas
15 Apr 2026
Total posts 1
This breaks my heart. Loved that arrivals lounge. The prefect way to set up your day after an overnight flight into HKG.
QantasFF
16 Nov 2012
Total posts 62
I accessed it once but there was nothing there but a long wait for showers. Unless it's a good service there's no point having it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 429
So agree with the comments on the arrival lounge. Airline speak from Vivet for we dont need to spend that money. The lounge was crowded in the past, which means it was too small and there was demand. And HKIA is hardly close to the city. Its an opportunity to freshen up before heading to the hotel in the city and a bit more time if there's no early checkin
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Aug 2018
Total posts 123
Planning to fly to Kathmandu next February 2027, flying Cathay Pacific in business from Melbourne via Hong Kong. What lounge will be available if no arrivals lounge is operated by CP. will want a full refreshing time after the 8/10 hours flight from Aus. Fellow travellers. Any suggestions?
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