AIRPORT HOSPITALITY WORLD ROUND-UP
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26 August
SOUTH AFRICA. South African Airways (SAA) has unveiled a newly refurbished domestic departures lounge with expanded capacity at Cape Town International Airport.
This is the third major upgrade in SAA’s revitalised lounge concept, ‘The Lounge’, following successful airport lounge renovations at OR Tambo International, Johannesburg and Chief Dawid Stuurman International, Port Elizabeth.
Key features of the revitalised space include copper-clad concierge desks; a mixology show-bar with expert baristas and bartenders; buffet-style dining with gourmet breakfasts, all-day meals and crafted canapés; private booths for work, entertainment or calls; and universal charging ports, plus high-speed wifi throughout.
Passengers can look forward to an elevated culinary experience crafted by SAA’s catering partner, Air Chefs.
The lounge is accessible to eligible SAA customers, as well as Discovery Bank clients and Investec Private Banking cardholders, subject to tier and booking class.
22 August
USA. Air France has revealed its redesigned lounge in Boston Logan International Airport Terminal E. Set in over 550sq m and seating 126, it features the airline’s signature colours – shades of blue, luminous white and red touches.
Created in collaboration with agency SGK Brandimage, the design reflects the Air France style by highlighting its logo, the historic winged seahorse (see below), and posters displaying its rich heritage.
A French-style culinary experience is on offer, with a range of hot and cold, savoury and sweet dishes on offer throughout the day.
There are also TV screens and a digital press offer is available on the Air France Press app.
The lounge is dedicated to Air France Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers, and eligible individuals from KLM and SkyTeam partner airlines.
This summer, Air France is operating up to 14 weekly flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Boston.
19 August
Qatar Airways has selected The New Terminal One as its new home at New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. The carrier will move its operations from Terminal 8 to the state-of-the-art terminal in 2026 and unveil a premium, 15,000sq ft Qatar Airways lounge.
It will be the airline’s first dedicated lounge in both New York City and the USA.
Offering efficient direct access to the boarding gate from Qatar Airways’ exclusive lounge, the airline said the facility will provide an elevated experience featuring premium food & beverage options and best-in-class amenities.
Access the full story here.
17 August
CHINA (HONG KONG). Cathay Pacific has unveiled its redesigned flagship lounge at Beijing Capital International Airport.
The opening marks another milestone in the airline’s extensive lounge enhancement plan in Hong Kong and other major destinations, following the reopening of The Bridge at Hong Kong International Airport in May.
Key features include The Terrace, a light-filled veranda with a dedicated corner showcasing the airline’s bespoke multi-functional Solo Chairs.
Artworks feature throughout the space, developed in collaboration with one of the curators behind the airline’s award-winning ‘Gallery in the Skies’ concept.
The pieces range from vibrant, contemporary calligraphy to whimsical drawings on boarding passes, created by a diverse group of artists.
On the dining front, the lounge presents guests with three distinct propositions – The Noodle Bar, The Food Hall and The Teahouse.
The Noodle Bar blends communal long tables with banquette seating. In addition to signature dishes including freshly prepared wonton and dan dan noodles, it also serves Beijing specialties and a selection of Northern Chinese dishes.
The Food Hall features an array of self-serve international cuisine options, including hot dishes, salads and freshly baked goods.
For the first time outside Hong Kong, The Teahouse offers Chinese teas freshly brewed to order by Cathay Pacific’s tea specialists. The teas are sourced from regions across China for their origin and flavour profiles.
Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “The redesigned lounge complements Cathay Pacific’s seven daily return flights between Hong Kong and Beijing this summer, as we strive to offer customers greater choice and convenience — both in the air and on the ground — when they travel with us.”
11 August
Bangalore Airport Services Limited (BASL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), has unveiled two lounges under the brand name O’Vetra at Tiruchirappalli International Airport.
This is the company’s first venture outside its home airport of Kempegowda International Bengaluru, where it operates the high-class 080 Domestic and International lounges.
Read the full story and see an extensive image gallery here.
7 August
Miami-headquartered Global Lounge Network (GLN) has unveiled its latest VIP lounge at El Loa Airport in Calama, Chile.
Named The Harmony Lounge, it offers local cuisine and personalised service, with amenities including high speed wifi.
“This space is both a retreat and a reflection of Northern Chilean hospitality,” proclaimed GLN.
5 August
USA. United Airlines has this week opened its fourth United Club lounge at Denver International Airport. The 3,065sq m, two-level facility in Concourse B offers more than 600 seats and is now the largest lounge in the carrier’s portfolio.
Among the facilities are two premium bars and buffet dining. Customers can enjoy seasonal cuisine, such as black beancorn summer salad, artichoke bake and a summer vegetable frittata.
The lounge also includes amenities such as free high-speed wifi, self-scan entry gates and wellness rooms.
UK. As part of a wider refresh of The British Airways Club Lounge at London Gatwick Airport, guests can now enjoy beers from BrewDog on tap before their flight.
Serving London favourites Punk IPA and Wingman, the just installed self-pour draught beer station is accompanied by chilled cans and a quiet spot to consume the beer.
A post from BrewDog on LinkedIn said: “A self-pour beer station: the airport lounge feature we never knew we needed… until now. Head to the BrewDog bar inside The British Airways Club Lounge at London Gatwick to get a taste of the good stuff before your flight.”
4 August
Airport Dimensions has entered the Indonesian market with the new 500sq m Blue Sky Premier Lounge in the domestic terminal at Makassar Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. It can accommodate up to 137 guests.
The opening marks the first milestone following a strategic investment in Blue Sky Group’s subsidiary PT Bumi Liputan Angkasa, announced in March.
Airport Dimensions noted this latest facility responds to the rise in passenger traffic at Makassar Airport, which now exceeds 1 million travellers per month, and the port city’s rapid emergence as a dynamic metropolitan hub in Eastern Indonesia.
Full details of the facilities and images can be accessed here.
MALAYSIA. Leading global airport hospitality services provider Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed industry veteran Cavin Loh as Regional General Manager for Southeast Asia – Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand.
With more than 15 years of experience in hospitality and airport services, Loh has been described as a “key pillar of PPG” for more than a decade.
He was notable for his roles as Area General Manager and Regional Commercial Director of Southeast Asia, reflecting his expertise in regional operations and strong focus on customer service.
As part of his expanded leadership remit, he will manage core growth strategies and bolster commercial operations.
Plaza Premium Group Chief Operating Officer Suresh Kumar said, “Cavin has been instrumental in accelerating commercial growth and operational excellence throughout Southeast Asia.
“His proactive leadership, strategic collaborations and commitment to enhancing customer experiences – combined with his strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities – have strengthened our regional performance.
“With his sharp strategic acumen and long-term vision, we are confident that Cavin will continue to drive Plaza Premium Group’s success in this dynamic market.”
Read the June column of Airport Hospitality World here.
Read the July column of Airport Hospitality World here.
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The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce Airport Hospitality World, the latest edition to its wide-ranging, market-leading travel retail and airport non-aeronautical revenues publishing and event portfolio. Airport Hospitality World covers all forms of airport lounges across international and domestic terminals, including various definitions as follows:
Plus other hospitality-related platforms:
Excitingly, the long-established Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards will embrace Airport Hospitality World from the 2026 edition – the event’s 15th anniversary. The event will take on an extended form, featuring an exhibition and the ultimate one-stop airport hospitality and food & beverage conference and awards platform. |
