AIRPORT HOSPITALITY WORLD ROUND-UP
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27 December
ETHIOPIA. Ethiopian Airlines Group has inaugurated a new premium lounge at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
Spanning 5,500sq m, the lounge represents an investment of more than US$16 million and has capacity for up to 1,000 passengers, making it the largest lounge at the airport.
The space offers a comprehensive range of amenities including dining and seating areas, bars an Ethiopian traditional coffee corner, meeting rooms, a children’s room, beauty lounge, prayer and quiet rooms, smoking and luggage rooms, and shower facilities.
Ethiopian said the design blends locally inspired elements with modern aesthetics, catering to both business and leisure travellers passing through its Addis Ababa hub.
18 December
UK. Turkish Airlines has opened its first airport lounge in Europe outside Türkiye at Edinburgh Airport. The Turkish Airlines Lounge is a partnership with Plaza Premium Group (PPG).
The 673sq m facility accommodates up to 149 guests and is open to Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers, Miles&Smiles members, Star Alliance customers and PPG partner airlines.
Full story and images here.
16 December
USA. We present the findings from the inaugural J.D. Power U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark study. It reveals 47% of airport lounge users say they plan their flight routes based on access to a preferred lounge, while 82% report that lounge access influences their choice of airline.
Read many more insights from the study here.
14 December
USA. JetBlue has announced the opening of BlueHouse, its first-ever airport lounge, at New York JFK International Airport Terminal 5.
The 9,000sq ft, two-level lounge will open on 18 December and marks JetBlue’s entry into the airport lounge sector. The low cost carrier said it is positioning BlueHouse as a “premium yet accessible” hospitality concept within its flagship terminal.
Designed with an NYC apartment-style aesthetic, BlueHouse features Art Deco influences, curated local artwork and references to JetBlue’s brand heritage.
Food and beverage offerings will be curated by Union Square Events, with drinks supplied by New York partners including Joe Coffee, The Greats of Craft and Please Don’t Tell.
Amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi, extensive power access, open and quiet seating zones, and a dedicated game room.
JetBlue President Marty St. George commented: “BlueHouse helps make our flagship terminal feel more like home. It’s warm, comfortable, and elevated in a way that’s distinctly JetBlue, with the hospitality and thoughtful amenities our customers have been asking for.
“As our first lounge, it represents an exciting milestone in our JetForward journey as we focus on bringing affordable, premium experiences from the aircraft to the airport.”
Complimentary access will be available to Mosaic 4 members, JetBlue Premier Cardmembers and transatlantic Mint customers.
12 December
UK. Air France has announced its latest major airport lounge investment, a 750sq m concession which will open in London Heathrow Terminal 4 during spring 2026.
The space will offer premium facilities for La Première, Business Class and Flying Blue Elite Plus passengers, along with eligible travellers on KLM and other SkyTeam partners.
Full story here.
11 December
ITALY. Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has shared details of its first Plaza Premium First Lounge in Europe, soon to open at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport.
The launch marks a major milestone in PPG’s European expansion.
Located in Terminal 1, International Departures, the 700sq m lounge accommodates 115 guests.
A design featuring travertine stone, oak wood and bronze accents pays tribute to local artistry and sustainable design.
Artwork and decorative elements feature curated photography and abstract pieces linked to Italian craftsmanship and travel culture.
The space features the Aero Bar (pictured below) with a resident mixologist, and The Primo Dining Room is an exclusive space featuring an à la carte menu.
A note from PPG said, “The new elevated lounge concept represents a transformative evolution in Plaza Premium Group’s mission to redefine travel and provide discerning travellers with the ultimate blend of personalised hospitality, bespoke dining offerings, curated cocktails, wines & spirits, luxurious spaces and immersive cultural experiences.”
Aeroporti di Roma CEO Marco Troncone commented, “The opening of the new Plaza Premium First Lounge in Europe at our airport reflects Aeroporti di Roma’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the passenger experience, as recognised by our 5-Star Skytrax rating.
“Hosting the debut of this premium concept in Europe confirms Fiumicino’s role as a gateway capable of attracting leading global operators.
“It also strengthens Rome’s positioning as a strategic hub in the global travel network, where service excellence, comfort and local identity come together to offer a high-quality and increasingly personalised airport experience.”
7 December
NEW ZEALAND/AOTEAROA. Qantas is preparing to open the doors to its Auckland International Lounge in time for the peak holiday season, as the airline expands its trans-Tasman network.
The footprint of the new lounge is +60% larger than the previous space, providing capacity for more than 370 customers across dedicated zones for dining, relaxation and work.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said, “The new Auckland lounge celebrates the best of New Zealand and has been thoughtfully designed for how our customers want to use the space, whether that’s working, relaxing over a meal, or freshening up during transit.”
For the first time across the Qantas global lounge network, Platinum One and Platinum Frequent Flyers will have access to a dedicated à la carte dining area offering a seasonal menu, created by Qantas Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service Neil Perry.
The menu features dishes such as crumbed local fish and chips served up alongside popular Qantas favourites, including salt and pepper squid and signature pavlova.
New Zealand produce and local wine will feature in a dining area offering a buffet, gelato station and a cocktail bar serving up premium beverages and barista-made coffee.
The lounge design brings the outside in, with living green walls throughout, travertine tiles and terrazzo tabletops.
Bespoke furniture features seating upholstered in premium New Zealand wool and leather, and a four-metre artwork by artist Gabrielle Penfold (see above) captures the iconic North Head, Devonport.
Designer David Caon said the Auckland International Lounge celebrates the natural landscape of New Zealand while staying true to Qantas’ design across its lounges throughout the world.
The Qantas Auckland International Lounge will officially open on 17 December.
5 December
USA. Hyde Park Hospitality (HPH)-operated Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club has been inagurated at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
The venture is a partnership between HPH, Airport Dimensions and JP Morgan Chase.
Open to Chase card members, the food & beverage offer features dining options from acclaimed restaurant group Momofuku.
A note from HPH said: “We’re proud to bring a new level of comfort and hospitality to travellers visiting Las Vegas and be the travellers’ first taste of their destination – not just the place they pass through to reach it.”
HPH now operates 22 lounges across its US airport estate. ✈
Read the June Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the July Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the August Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the September Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the October Airport Hospitality World column here.
Read the November Airport Hospitality World column here.
TENDER ALERTThe Moodie Davitt Report is the industry’s most popular channel for launching commercial proposals and for publishing the results. If you wish to promote an Expression of Interest, Request for Proposals or full tender process for any sector of airport or other travel-related infrastructure revenues, simply email Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com. We have a variety of options that will ensure you reach the widest, most high-quality concessionaire/retailer/operator base in the industry – globally and immediately. The Moodie Davitt Report is the only international business media to cover all airport or other travel-related consumer services, revenue-generating and otherwise. Our reporting includes duty-free and other retail, food & beverage, property, passenger lounges, art and culture, hotels, car parking, medical facilities, the internet, advertising and related revenue streams. Please send relevant material, including images, to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com for instant, quality global coverage. |
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. |
