AIRPORT HOSPITALITY WORLD ROUND-UP
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report has launched an Airport Hospitality World LinkedIn newsletter, a curated monthly selection of the latest global airport lounge news and key stories from the wider airport hospitality sector. Follow this link to subscribe. Please send your press releases to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com while for advertising enquiries please contact Christelle Hill at Christelle@MoodieDavittReport.com
31 October
USA. Delta Air Lines has unveiled its newest and second largest Delta Sky Club at Salt Lake City International Airport, a near-34,000sq ft facility located in the Utah gateway’s expanded Concourse B.
The lounge, which can accommodate up to 600 guests, strengthens the carrier’s presence at one of its key western US hubs.
Read the full story and see an image gallery here.
29 October
INTERNATIONAL. Airport Dimensions has rebranded its airport in-terminal sleep station product as ‘Sleepover’, replacing its former ‘sleep n’ fly’ brand.
The service provides access to a range of comfortable modular pods and cabins, which can be booked by the hour, with optional add-ons such as showers.
Read the full story here.
28 October
CAMBODIA. Global airport hospitality and passenger service solutions provider Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has opened two lounges — Plaza Premium First and Plaza Premium Lounge — at Cambodia’s newly inaugurated Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh.
Both lounges – which are open to passengers travelling on any of 21 airlines – have been designed to bring a strong sense of place.
Read the full story and see an image gallery here.
25 October
USA. Air France has opened its debut lounge at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (pictured below). The airline bills the space as offering “a moment of French-style tranquillity and refinement before your flight”.
Located in Terminal 5 and operated with Global Lounge Network, the 470sq m facility seats 105 guests.
Full story, and an image gallery and video, here.
USA. CAVU has announced that it is soon to open a new Escape Lounge at Omaha Airport (Eppey Airfield) in Nebraska.
The company noted: “The premium space is inspired by the heart and character of Omaha. From the creative energy of the Benson neighbourhood to the historic charm of the Old Market and the natural beauty of the prairie landscape and the Missouri River, every detail has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the city’s spirit.”
CAVU VP Experiences Growth Craig Pring said: “We’ve created distinct zones throughout the lounge to meet different traveller needs, whether that’s a comfortable space to enjoy great food and drink or an area to catch up on work before take-off.”
QATAR. The Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno at Hamad International Airport (pictured below) has retained its title as Best Independent Airport Lounge in the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide.
UK. No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 has been crowned Europe’s Leading Airport Lounge 2025 at the 32nd World Travel Awards. The brand is owned and operated by SwissportALD, the joint venture between Swissport and Airport Dimensions.
Representatives from SwissportALD are pictured above collecting the award at the World Travel Awards, this year staged in Sardinia.
17 October
SAUDI ARABIA. Catrion, a leading Saudi Arabia provider of in-flight catering and airport hospitality services, has opened a premium lounge at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, marking a key step in its airport expansion strategy.
The 907sq m facility, which has panoramic airfield views, is designed to serve up to 650,000 guests annually. It targets First and Business Class travellers on both domestic and international carriers, in addition to loyalty programme members and walk-in guests.
Full story and images from the lounge’s inauguration event can be found here.
14 October
USA/UAE. British Airways has unveiled a bold new lounge design with the opening of two high-class spaces at Miami International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
The launches mark the debut of a global lounge concept that blends British Airways’ heritage with each destination’s distinctive identity, forming a key part of the airline’s £7 billion (US$9.4 billion) transformation programme.
Full story and an impressive image gallery via this link.
HONG KONG, CHINA. Airport Dimensions, together with partners SSP Asia Pacific and Travel Food Services (TFS), has won a major honour at the World Travel Awards. The partnership’s Kyra Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport has been named Asia’s Leading Airport Lounge 2025.
The lounge combines premium food & beverage (with the menu curated by SSP and TFS) and luxury amenities delivered in different zones designed to cater for key passenger groups. Read our story about Kyra Lounge here.
“The response from our guests has been extraordinary, and this public-voted award is a reflection of the incredible impact Kyra has already made,” a note from Airport Dimensions on LinkedIn said.
13 October
VIETNAM. Vietnam Airlines officially opened the Lotus Lounge in Da Nang International Airport Terminal 2. The airline said the airside lounge has been designed to “international 5-star standards”, combining Vietnamese cultural identity with modern style.
Business Class passengers, Lotusmiles members and SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers can access the lounge before international flights.
8 October
SAUDI ARABIA. We bring you the first images as Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, launches its debut premium airport hospitality facility, the Hafawa Lounge at King Khalid International Airport.
Located between terminals 1 and 2, the nearly 2,000sq m lounge offers seating for approximately 370 guests and will be exclusive to Business Class and Business Elite passengers.
Global design studio Yabu Pushelberg designed the lounge, which features a mix of limestone, oak wood, bronze and textured plaster finishes, materials chosen to evoke the Saudi desert landscape and natural environment.
Full story and more images here.
UK. Swissport has unveiled its latest Aspire lounge at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
The new lounge offers more than double the capacity of the previous one and introduces Aspire Luxe, a new premium adults-only space.
More than 200 colleagues and partners were involved in delivering the project, Swissport noted.
At the centre of the design ethos was to celebrate the City of Liverpool, its history and architecture (local legend, the late Cilla Black and a purple wheelie bin, a symbol of the city, even make an appearance).
Gold Key Media partnered Aspire as digital supplier. The company has delivered interactive food and drink ordering and amenity reservations, plus live flight trackers and access to free digital newspapers and magazines.
Swissport Director of Executive Lounges UK&I and Global Customer Product Innovation James Millet said, “This lounge really showcases our strategy to raise the bar on airport hospitality and create design-led spaces in partnership with ambitious airports globally.”
UK. London Luton Airport (LLA) has opened an airside Assisted Travel Lounge, further cementing its status as one of the UK’s most accessible airports.
The purpose-built facility can accommodate up to 50 passengers and is part of LLA’s broader investment in accessibility and inclusion.
Full story here.
7 October
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA. Global airport hospitality services leader Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed Emrecan Ergin as Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, signalling a strategic push in one of its fastest-growing regions.
Full story here.
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.
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. |
