Qantas has announced plans to open a pop-up lounge at Darwin International airport for customers travelling between Sydney and London via the city next month.
Australia’s flag carrier recently announced that its route to London would operate via Darwin on November 1. This will remain in place until at least April 2022 due to Western Australia border closures.
Qantas will lease Darwin International airport’s Catalina lounge, which will have space for approximately 100 guests, and will retain existing furniture and fittings.
Customers will be welcomed by Qantas team members, a signature welcome mocktail (the Top End Lemonade) and refreshing cold towels. The lounge will also offer dining areas with a serviced buffet and tailored menus for the time of day which draw on local culinary influences – examples include a Darwin markets-inspired Asian style soup. There will also be premium Australian wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks on offer.
The lounge will also feature bathroom facilities and power points throughout the space.
The temporary lounge will accept Platinum One, Platinum, Gold Qantas Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members, customers travelling in business class, and eligible Oneworld partners members.
Stephanie Tully, Qantas Group chief customer officer, said:
“We know that spending time in our lounges is one of the most enjoyable parts of the travel experience. We are excited to work with our friends at Darwin airport to have our lounge facility ready next week in time to welcome our first international customers in 20 months.
“Given the relatively brief transit time of 90 minutes, our focus will be on offering a comfortable space for customers to stretch their legs, enjoy a brunch or light supper and to refresh before their onward journey.
“Previously, our direct flight between Australia and London had the highest customer satisfaction rating on our entire network and our plan is to recreate that as we restart.”
Qantas will also reopen its Sydney International First Lounge from November 1, followed by its lounges in London and Los Angeles in December.
Following the news earlier this month that the carrier is bringing forward the resumption of flights to London and Los Angeles to the start of November, the airline has said that in the interim period eligible Qantas customers can visit the British Airways T3 Lounge at London Heathrow and the Star Alliance Lounge at Tom Bradley International Terminal in LA.
The airline will also resume flights to Johannesburg on January 5, 2022, three months ahead of schedule, followed by service to Bangkok on January 14.
The airline stated that other international lounges will reopen “to align with the return of further international routes”.
