AIRPORT HOSPITALITY WORLD ROUND-UP
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18 August
ROMANIA. Sibiu International Airport has opened a new Business Lounge in partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail, adding an upgraded hospitality offer in the airport’s Schengen departures area.
The 250sq m lounge has capacity for 55 guests and features relaxation areas, high-speed internet, real-time flight information and charging facilities for electronic devices.
The food & beverage offer includes speciality coffee and tea, hot and cold drinks, alongside a selection of snacks, sandwiches, salads and desserts.
The airport company said the redesigned and modernised space is intended to provide passengers with a more comfortable pre-flight experience while complementing the airport’s wider range of passenger services and facilities.
The Business Lounge operates daily in line with the flight schedule, opening for the first departure and remaining available until the final flight of the day.
Access is offered to eligible Priority Pass and LoungeKey members. Other passengers can use the facility for a €30 entrance fee.
SOUTH KOREA. Technology-driven rest solutions provider Kepler Club has unveiled its expanded facility at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, more than doubling its bed capacity and introducing a double-deck cabin design with private entry for every guest.
Full story here.
17 August
INTERNATIONAL. Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has launched the second edition of its Chef Series, extending the airport lounge dining campaign to five international locations.
Running from 17 August to 31 October, Flavours in Transit: From Our Roots to Your Plate showcases signature dishes created by PPG’s in-house chefs, with each menu item drawing on local ingredients, culinary traditions or the chef’s own heritage.
The programme spans Plaza Premium Lounges in Vancouver, Istanbul, London Heathrow, Taipei and Dammam.
In Vancouver, Chef Debojyoti Mondal has created a Sorshe Salmon Bowl combining wild-caught British Columbia salmon with flavours inspired by his childhood in Kolkata.
At Istanbul, Executive Chef Ahmet Ersoy is serving Ali Nazik, featuring fire-roasted eggplant and garlic yoghurt with spiced lamb, inspired by his upbringing on his family’s farm.
London Heathrow Executive Sous Chef Humayu Tajak has opted for a British staple, Beef Cottage Pie, made with locally sourced beef and vegetables and topped with mashed potato.
In Taipei, Executive Chef Russ Wang’s Taiwanese-style Satay Beef Noodle Soup features Yilan Sanxing scallions, house-made satay sauce and Shaoxing chilli oil.
At Dammam, Country Executive Chef Nadir Ali is showcasing Lamb Jareesh, combining local lamb and crushed wheat with dried black lime, or loomi.
PPG said the campaign is designed to use food as a means of connecting travellers with the culture and identity of each destination, while placing greater emphasis on the role of its resident chefs within the lounge experience.
The initiative builds on the inaugural Chef Series and supports PPG’s wider Your Destination Before Departure hospitality positioning.
Read more about this initiative in our main story here.
13 August
INTERNATIONAL. London-based financial services company Revolut is entering the airport hospitality sector with plans to develop a dedicated network of premium airport lounges.
The new Revolut Lounge concept forms part of the company’s strategy to extend its brand into physical spaces and strengthen its travel proposition.
Copenhagen Airport will be among the first locations, with a Revolut Lounge scheduled to open in 2027, to be operated by Plaza Premium Group.
According to the company, the facility will be the largest common-use lounge in the airport’s Schengen area.
Further details on the lounge network, including additional locations, facilities and access arrangements, have yet to be announced.
12 August
TANZANIA. Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is set to make its market debut in Tanzania with the opening of a Plaza Premium Lounge at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) Terminal 3 in Dar es Salaam later this month.
The new facility will feature dining and beverage services, shower suites, a dedicated prayer room and business amenities alongside PPG’s wider lounge offer and personalised services.
The investment represents a further expansion of PPG’s footprint in Africa and comes as Tanzania seeks to strengthen JNIA’s role as a regional gateway for international business, trade and tourism.
PPG said it will combine its international airport hospitality expertise with locally inspired service at the new facility.
10 August
ISRAEL. Jetex and Layam, part of Teddy Sagi Group, have opened a new premium lounge at Ben Gurion Airport Terminal 3, the first of two facilities the partners are introducing at the Israeli gateway.
The 250sq m lounge is located in the duty-free area near the synagogue and features an Israeli-inspired food offer led by Chef Eitan Mizrahi, complemented by desserts from pastry chef Dudu Outmezgine.
A second, larger lounge spanning 370sq m is scheduled to open in the coming months.
The openings follow a tender awarded by Israel Airports Authority last year to Jetex and Layam to operate two lounges at Ben Gurion.
The partners secured a six-year concession with an option for a three-year extension.
The new lounge features work and relaxation areas, high-speed wifi, charging points at every seat and partitioned spaces offering additional privacy and facilities for business meetings.
Michael Azoulay Studio and Teddy Sagi Group architect Yaara Gooner led the interior design. The concept combines warm earth tones, wood, stone and brass with greenery and soft lighting, while diagonal elements across the ceiling and carpentry are designed to create a sense of movement and space.
Premium-class passengers and eligible airline loyalty programme members can access the facility free of charge, as can qualifying American Express premium cardholders under an exclusive agreement between the card company and Jetex.
Eligible business-class passengers travelling with international carriers serving Ben Gurion, including Etihad Airways, British Airways and Air France, also receive complimentary access. Other passengers can enter for US$100 per person.
ARGENTINA. AMAE Lounge has extended its domestic network with the opening of the first airport lounge at Aviador Carlos Campos (Chapelco) Airport in Neuquén Province.
The new facility takes the airport hospitality operator’s Argentine network to 18 lounges.
Located on the first floor of the terminal, the lounge currently accommodates up to 22 guests.
AMAE said the facility will subsequently be relocated to a larger space.
Chapelco Airport serves San Martín de los Andes and Junín de los Andes and provides an important air gateway to the Patagonia region.
San Martín de los Andes is a prominent year-round leisure destination, with the airport playing a key role in supporting the region’s tourism sector.
AMAE described the opening as a further step in its strategy to expand its lounge network in partnership with airports and other stakeholders across Argentina.
9 August
USA. British Airways has closed its Galleries lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport for a US$15 million redevelopment, with the extensively upgraded facility scheduled to reopen in summer 2027.
The Terminal B lounge closed at the end of July and will undergo a complete refurbishment, including an expanded dining offer, self-service bar and renovated shower facilities.
The redevelopment will also introduce floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the runway and a significantly enhanced Concorde dining area for eligible First customers.
During the closure, eligible British Airways passengers are being offered airport dining vouchers as an interim alternative.
Additional lounge access is expected to become available from September, although details of the arrangements and customer eligibility have yet to be confirmed.
PUERTO RICO. Global Lounge Network has expanded its airport hospitality footprint with the opening of a new VIP lounge in Terminal B at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan.
The facility has opened with capacity for 62 guests, rising to 82 as the final furnishings are installed.
The lounge combines dedicated relaxation and work areas with a children’s play zone and private restrooms.
The food & beverage proposition includes a fresh food selection, gourmet espresso coffee station and full-service bar.
Global Lounge Network said the design combines a modern environment with elements of Caribbean hospitality, targeting both business and leisure travellers seeking a quieter space before departure.
8 August
INDIA. Adani Airport Holdings Limited has opened the International Silver Lounge at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
The lounge is accessible to business-class passengers and eligible cardholders and features a curated buffet alongside a wide selection of beverages and a dedicated juice bar.
The facility also incorporates in-lounge duty-free shopping, bringing the retail and hospitality propositions together within the pre-flight environment.
The International Silver Lounge was inaugurated by Adani Airport Holdings Director Jeet Adani and Diva Adani, in the presence of AAHL CEO Arun Bansal and Non-Aero CEO Suchit Bansal.
6 August
THE NETHERLANDS. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has opened its largest Privium lounge, an 800sq m-plus facility with capacity for 125 guests in the Schengen area.
Privium ClubLounge South, opened on 6 August, is located close to B and C gates and the future A gates.
Designed by interior architecture studio D/DOCK, it takes the airport’s Privium lounge network to four locations.
The facility features dedicated work and relaxation zones, meeting facilities and a shower, alongside an enhanced food & beverage proposition.
The new F&B concept evolves throughout the day, beginning with breakfast and barista-made coffee before transitioning to freshly baked sandwiches, salads and a selection of hot and cold dishes.
Schiphol said greater use of individually portioned items is designed to better meet passenger needs while reducing food waste.
The lounge incorporates natural materials and greenery, with its different zones designed to accommodate passengers looking to work, prepare for meetings or relax before departure.
Later this year, Schiphol plans to introduce an exclusive security lane providing direct access to the lounge from the departure hall, designed to create a faster journey for Privium members through to the gate.
ClubLounge South has been developed primarily for Privium Plus members, although non-members can also gain entry by purchasing a lounge voucher.
TÜRKİYE. Emirates is set to open a dedicated lounge at Istanbul Airport as the Dubai-based carrier continues the roll-out of its next-generation airport hospitality concept.
The airline has begun recruiting the opening team for the new facility, signalling preparations for the lounge’s launch at the Turkish gateway.
Emirates said the Istanbul facility will form part of its evolving global lounge concept, designed to enhance the premium ground experience for eligible customers.
6 August
ARGENTINA. AMAE Lounge has opened the first lounge serving domestic departures at Ministro Pistarini International (Ezeiza) Airport in Buenos Aires.
The near-500sq m facility accommodates more than 100 guests and is located within the airport’s domestic departures area, introducing a dedicated lounge proposition for passengers flying on domestic services from Ezeiza for the first time.
The facility features AMAE Lounge’s latest design style, reflecting the company’s evolving brand identity. It incorporates areas for relaxation and work alongside the operator’s wider hospitality offer.
AMAE Lounge delivered the project in collaboration with airport operator Aeropuertos Argentina, Collinson Group and DragonPass.
USA. San Francisco International Airport is set to introduce a new airside hospitality concept offering private bedrooms and showers to passengers in terminals 1 and 3.
The planned Wait N’ Rest facilities follow approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors of a 12-year lease covering two locations at the airport.
Scheduled to open in September 2027, the concept will offer private spaces close to the gates.
The larger Terminal 1 facility is also planned to feature The Lost Gate, an integrated food & beverage concept offering food and cocktails.
2 August
HONG KONG, CHINA. Premium lounge brand Kyra, a partnership between Airport Dimensions, SSP and Travel Food Services, has expanded its hospitality offering with the Asia Pacific debut of Mastercard’s Taste by Priceless dining concept at Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1.
Full story here.
1 August
CHILE. Plaza Premium Group is to enter the Chilean market with the opening of five airport lounges at Santiago de Chile Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, marking a significant expansion of its Latin American network.
Full story here.
TAIWAN. Airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement specialist Collinson, owner and operator of Priority Pass, has partnered with insurance provider Cathay Life to extend its SmartDelay benefit to eligible travel insurance policyholders in Taiwan.
Full story here.
SOUTH KOREA. Technology-driven rest solutions provider Kepler Club has unveiled its expanded facility at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, more than doubling its bed capacity and introducing a double-deck cabin design with private entry for every guest.
Full story here. ✈
Read the June 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the July 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the August 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the September 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the October 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the November 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the December 2025 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the January 2026 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the February 2026 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the March 2026 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the April 2026 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the May 2026 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the June 2026 Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the July 2026 Airport Hospitality World column 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. |
