Dublin airport has opened a new lounge for premium passengers using US Preclearance facilities at Terminal 2.
The name 51st and Green was chosen to represent “the place where Ireland and America connect – the 51st State of America and Green for Ireland and Dublin Airport”.
The 750 sqm lounge is located “close to the intersection threshold of runways 34 and 28”, past gates 405 and 406 (see map below), and features “a 32-metre entrance corridor over terrazzo tiles spaced with bronze strips, sloping to a bright open space with spectacular views of the airfield”.
Facilities include seating for 180 people, a concierge service, shower rooms, food and beverage options, an entertainment area showing sports channels, charging outlets, free wifi, and a private area for “Platinum Service” customers.
Dublin airport says that a record one million passengers used its US Preclearance facility in 2015, and passenger numbers are up 19 per cent in the first six months of this year.
Commenting on the new facility Vincent Harrison, Dublin airport’s managing director said:
“We are delighted to have this post US Preclearance lounge open for passengers which is unique as Dublin the only airport outside of North America to offer a lounge facility once the necessary Preclearance checks are completed.
“With four airlines currently flying 276 times to and from 11 destinations in the US on a weekly basis, an average of almost 40 return flights daily, Dublin Airport now ranks 5th among EU airports for route frequency to North America. We have surpassed Madrid and only Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are ahead of Dublin.”
The lounge is open to transatlantic passengers flying in business class with Aer Lingus, Delta, United or American Airlines, as well as those holding “airline club cards”.
A spokesperson for the airport said,
“We are now accepting all customers who wish to avail of the lounge as access to 51st&Green can be purchased at €39 per person. It remains complimentary for business class passengers. Passengers should contact their airline directly if they have a query regarding their entitlement to lounge access.”
