Cathay Pacific has just reopened a lounge that was “permanently” closed several years back. I covered this recently, but with the lounge having reopened as of today, we have some more details.
In this post:
The Bridge Lounge returns to Hong Kong as of May 2025
Cathay Pacific has reopened The Bridge Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) as of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The lounge is open daily from 5:30AM until the last departure, so generally at least 12:30AM. This 27,000+ square foot lounge can accommodate roughly 450 guests, and adds some much needed lounge capacity over the next few years. It’s located near gate 35, around the middle of the terminal.
For context, this lounge first opened back in 2013. Then it closed in 2020, at the start of the pandemic, when demand for travel to and from Hong Kong collapsed. Then in 2021, the airline announced it would permanently close this lounge. Well, the airline has had a change of heart, as it it’s once again welcoming guests.
Currently Cathay Pacific’s primary pair of lounges in Hong Kong are The Pier and The Wing, with each having both a first class and business class section. The Bridge was the next biggest lounge, and it was a shared space, following standard oneworld lounge access rules.
The Bridge has both a north and south wing, extending from the central reception area. The lounge has been redesigned compared to when it first opened, to reflect Cathay Pacific’s updated aesthetic.
Features of the lounge include The Noodle Bar (serving regional specialties, like signature wonton and dan dan noodles), The Nook (serving Chinese light bites and baked treats), The Food Hall (featuring international cuisine), and The Bar (with cocktails, barista coffee, and more). The lounge also boasts nine shower suites, for those looking to freshen up.
While The Bridge used to be a shared space for all passengers eligible for access, that has changed with this reopening. The lounge has a dedicated dining area for first class passengers and Cathay Pacific Diamond members, but oneworld Emerald members are excluded from this area (I don’t love that precedent).
The timing of the lounge reopening is no coincidence
Cathay Pacific is reopening The Bridge at the same time that The Wing is expected to undergo a major refresh, and once again become the carrier’s flagship lounge. That project is expected to last from the middle of 2025 until 2027, and we’ll see the first class section closed first, followed by the business class section going under the knife. Specifically, The Wing First Class Lounge is expected to close on May 23, 2025.
So The Bridge will add some lounge capacity when the airline most needs it. It’s not yet clear if The Bridge is reopening as a temporary solution during the renovation, or if it sticks around in the long run. I would speculate that it will stay open in the long run, barring any major downturn in demand. After all, Cathay Pacific has some decent growth plans.
Separately, as a temporary policy, Cathay Pacific’s The Deck Lounge will start only welcoming first class passengers and oneworld Emerald members, and not business class passengers and oneworld Sapphire members.
Bottom line
As of May 7, 2025, Cathay Pacific has reopened The Bridge Hong Kong. The lounge opened over a decade ago, but was closed in 2020, and the plan was for that closure to be permanent. However, the airline has backtracked, as it prepares to close The Wing, in order to renovate it.
I’m impressed that Cathay Pacific has a plan to address the lounge capacity shortage that will exist while The Wing is renovated. Updating airport lounges can be complicated, and it’s nice that Cathay Pacific has this “lever” to pull.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific reopening The Bridge?
The decision to deny OW Emerald's access to the restaurant in the bridge is absolutely scandalous.
I fear this is a sign of worse to come...