SilkAir

Singapore Airlines’ regional subsidiary has become the first carrier to introduce the Boeing 737 Max 8 to Australia, specifically Darwin and Cairns. Apart from a quieter engine, those flying business class can expect a 25 percent increase in seat pitch and additional recline, not to mention freshly brewed gourmet coffee from Illy. Economy-class seats are also sleeker and more comfortable, with built-in features catering to wired travelers—think personal USB charging ports and seat-back holders for phones and tablets ( silkair.com). Design Details Hong Kong Airlines To express the identity of its home in a unique fashion, Hong Kong Airlines tasked homeware design brand JIA to develop a new line of tableware for its business-class cabins. These are largely inspired by the Bauhinia blakeana, the floral emblem of Hong Kong that appears on the airline’s logo: the white bowl and appetizer plates take their cues from the petals, while the deep-brown bread plate recalls a bauhinia leaf. Most playful of all, the miniature salt and pepper shakers are styled after siu mai and har gau dumplings, creating a dim sum–themed keepsake that passengers can take home ( hongkongairlines.com).