Amaala, a luxurious destination located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, has just unveiled plans for a new international airport, with a design inspired by the optical illusion of a desert mirage which will act as a striking entry point to many International visitors. There’s good reason the terminal might look somewhat familiar, it’s been imagined…
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Yesterday saw the opening of the brand-new Terminal B Arrivals and Departures Hall at LaGuardia Airport, the biggest milestone to date in the airport’s ongoing $8 billion transformation into a 21st century airport. The project – one of the largest public private partnerships in aviation history – includes the demolition and replacement of every terminal…
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The end of the month will see ANA welcome the addition of a range of new services at Haneda Airport Terminal 2’s international area. The airline has invested in passenger enhancements across the terminal including three new lounges, self-service baggage drops and enhanced security check procedures. While we won’t be seeing these bursting at the…
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Sydney’s International Terminal has just welcomed a brand new pay-for lounge for departing passengers. The new Plaza Premium Lounge, situated opposite Gate 25 of Pier B is the brand’s third addition in Australia joining locations in Melbourne and Brisbane. It’s the latest of a wave of lounges being opened by the brand, which now boasts over…
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In the hunt to be instagram-friendly, airports are increasingly installing large-scale artworks to delight passengers and become memorable parts of the passenger experience. After all, Sacramento has its rabbit. Denver has its mustang and further afield, Doha has it’s well documented teddy bear/desk lamp combo. Perhaps in a less likely location, Tampa has announced it…
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Air France and Paris Aéroport are underway in constructing a new lounge in Charles De Gaulle’s 2F terminal, used for its Schengen departures. Due to be complete by the end of the year, the lounge will be brought to fruition by a brand new creative design studio, infamous for its work with Alain Ducasse, Van Cleef…
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Qatar Airways officially opened its new Premium Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport at Terminal 1, and wanted to show it some love, opening it on Valentines Day, this month.According to the airline, the new Singapore lounge “serves as the benchmark and blueprint for Qatar Airways’ future Premium Lounges worldwide,” however it features many of the…
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Unlike other media-outlets focussing on the airline industry we make a point to never really comment on short-lived, political or click-bait style news. We focus our approach on the long-lasting customer experience advancements, but Hong Kong has created a unique global environment over the past couple of years, built on political unrest and now the…
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Plaza Premium has just opened its doors in Dubai International Airport, allowing Emirates (and FlyDubai) passengers – not qualifying for its expansive lounges – a new place to relax and unwind before their next flight. It’s not a small lounge either. With space for over 300 guests it’s the largest independent pay-per-use airport lounge at…
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Air France has just announced two new Business Class product launches, both on the ground and in the skies, geared towards the leisure market. Launched in close proximity the airline has announced its latest Caribbean and Indian Ocean retrofit featuring an economy-heavy configuration with brand new Business Class cabin, paired with a new Paris Orly…
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American Express and MAG USA (parent company of Escape) have just announced the opening of The Centurion and Escape Lounges at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Located in the airport’s Terminal 4 the lounges will cater to passengers flying with Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Condor, Southwest, Volaris and WestJet. The new lounge complex…
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British Airways just celebrated its centenary year and as part of its new year’s resolutions (Happy New Year everyone!) the carrier has hinted at some much needed upgrades to its Heathrow lounge complexes. 2019 saw the carrier bring a host of new lounge designs to its network including San Francisco, Geneva, New York and Milan.…
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June might have seen the opening of the Platinum Wing, but Finnair (just in time for Christmas) has unveiled the final phase of its non-Schengen lounge expansion with the opening of its new, larger, Business Class Lounge. The lounge – just like the Platinum Win – showcases contemporary Nordic design throughout and set on a range…
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SkyTeam has officially opened the doors to its seventh branded lounge with its signature distinct style including bright lively colours and never-ending curved features. Located in Istanbul’s new airport (IST), the facility is served by seven alliance members: Aeroflot, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia and TAROM. The lounge features a statement…
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Last week KLM officially opened its completely renovated non-Schengen Crown Lounge at Schiphol Airport. The lounge far outperforms the pervious incarnation, and celebrates new food and beverage concepts including it’s pay-for Blue restaurant. KLM’s non-Schengen Crown Lounge (the official name) is located between the E and F piers at Schiphol. The “KLM House” is identifiable…
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British Airways has just unveiled the latest in its lounge developments, re-opening the newly refurbished lounge in Geneva as part of its huge ongoing investment in the customer experience which includes other new lounges in Rome, San Francisco, Johannesburg and New York’s JFK. The lounge follows a new design concept for the airline, which debuted…
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On the 2nd December, just over 2 weeks away, we will see the grand opening of the new Qantas first class lounge in Singapore’s Changi International Airport. The lounge follows a wave of ground and inflight product improvements that are helping positioning the carrier as a true luxury, design-led proposition. In the meantime, select passengers…
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British Airways has been busy on the ground recently, and Johannesburg, South Africa was the latest destination to receive a lounge refurbishment. The space, based in O.R. Tambo International Airport has undergone significant refurbishment with the new and improved space being converted into one large lounge with a dedicated boutique dining area for First customers. The…
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If you haven’t travelled through Istanbul’s newest behemoth airport yet, you’re certainly in for a surprise. It certainly dwarves the previous airport and it couldn’t be more different. Light, airy and architecturally stunning, it’s a true gateway hub for the region and has set a standard for global airports for the next decade to come.…
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Last week saw Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture win the international design competition for the new Western Sydney Airport (WSA) and have been appointed as Master Architect for the project. The ZHA/COX team was selected from a broad field of forty national and international applicants that was narrowed to five selected design competitors. The…
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Today sees the opening of the latest Swiss lounge in Zurich, replacing the old First Class lounge in the A gates of Terminal 2, the new Alpine Lounge helps provide some respite to the Schengen departure swells due to the morning and evening flight banks. The airline has several lounges already across Zurich, and all…
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After three months of renovation, the new British Airways Linate lounge has opened its doors to British Airways and Oneworld passengers. While the lounge features a new look reception where customers will receive a warm welcome, it doesn’t reflect the ultra-modernist design of the newer lounges in Rome, Aberdeen or JFK. Instead paisley designs, more warmer tones…
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Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport have just announced plans for the second expansion phase in Doha. HIA’s expansion project will include a fairly grand 10,000 square metre indoor tropical garden in a central concourse as well as a 268 square metre water feature which will be the focal point of the expansion project. The…
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Tomorrow will see the opening of a new and improved American Express lounge in Sydney Airport, replacing its smaller predecessor. Located near Gates 50-63 at Sydney Airport’s T1 International terminal, the new lounge now spans over 600 sq m. The lounge is operated by global premium airport hospitality specialists Plaza Premium Group and offers guests…
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Regular visitors to T3 at London’s Heathrow Airport might believe the terminal’s Aerotel has been operating for months thanks to the large signage outside arrivals, but the terminal has just welcomed its 2nd hotel in close proximity to Terminals 3 and 2. This new space allows guests to book in several hour blocks or overnight…
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Spanning across more than 9,000 square metres in two storeys, Aerotel Beijing is the first, only and largest in-terminal international airport hotel in China and among the world’s biggest. Brought to life by Plaza Premium Group, the new 215-guest room property is just 5 minutes’ walk from Domestic check-in and 10 minutes from International check-in…
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Plaza Premium has just opened a new locale-sympathetic arrivals lounge in the Philippines supporting its existing International Departures lounge in Terminal 2. Located in Terminal 1 of Cebu’s international airport, the new pay-for lounge is brimming with character that bring the archipelago to life. Located in the restricted area, the 3,000-square-foot lounge is open 24…
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No1 Lounges seems to be getting deeper and deeper in to bed with airlines across the world, and has just launched its latest airport lounge partnership with Virgin Australia at Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal. This follows the opening of The House at Sydney and Melbourne in 2018 and their pre-existing partnership with Etihad. The new lounge…
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While the trend for airlines is to open a residential style lounge concept, Air Canada has leapfrogged its competition by creating a new lounge concept which focusses on time-sensitive travellers looking purely for a place to charge up their computers, phones and themselves. The opening of the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson International Airport supports the existing…
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All Nippon Airways is set to open its renovated lounge at Okinawa (Naha) Airport on September 3rd 2019. The newly revamped lounge, situated in Naha – one of Japan’s most southerly and tropical islands – is approximately 2.5 times larger and includes yet more seating space. The changes, which follow the new design palette recently…
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