Lounge update

Published: 05/04/2008 - Filed under: News »

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Emirates opens lounge at Brisbane Airport

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has opened a new lounge at Brisbane International Airport, complete with direct aircraft-boarding facilities and 360 degree views.

The Emirates lounge is located adjacent to gate 75 on the new northern concourse of the airport, and is twice the size of the airline’s previous premium facilities at Brisbane. It is also the first lounge in Australia capable of boarding passengers directly on to aircraft, including the upper deck of the A380 superjumbo.

There are a total of 172 seats – 106 in the lounge area itself, 56 in the dining section, and ten in the business centre. Features include massage chairs, flatscreen TVs, shower facilities and hot and cold food and beverages.

Australia is becoming an increasingly important market for Emirates, with the treaty signed last year allowing a 71 per cent increase in flights by 2011 (see online news March 29, 2007). The carrier currently operates 49 flights per week from Dubai to Australia, including a double-daily service to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and a daily flight to Brisbane.

Visit emirates.com.

Finnair to open spa at Helsinki lounge

Finnair is to open a spa and wellness centre at Helsinki Airport in 2009, aimed specifically at those passengers transferring flights at the airport.

The centre will be located in the Non-Schengen Terminal extension of the airport, due to open in autumn 2009. The facility will form part of the carrier’s new 1580sqm lounge (called via.Helsinki) and will include features such as treatment rooms, mineral water / cold water baths, and a sauna overlooking the runway.

The facilities will be available on a complimentary basis to business class passengers as well as Finnair and Oneworld top three tier customers, and for a charge to other customers.

Finnair says the lounge and spa will offer wellness services to its growing number of Europe-Asia passengers – the carrier expects to carry 1.3m passengers between the two continents this year.

Visit finnair.com.

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