UK. Newcastle International Airport has completed the first round of works in its £14 million transformation of the airside departure lounge.
Food & beverage specialist SSP has opened The Beer House, offering locally crafted ales, and US style diner Flying Hippo.
Aspire Lounge, open to all passengers for a fee, also opened this month. It is said to be the biggest in the UK and features a premium AspirePlus option, with a dedicated adults-only area, an enhanced menu and the Spey Whisky Bar.
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Flying Hippo: One of a number of new F&B outlets at Newcastle |
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The next stage of the development will run from autumn 2014 to May 2015. Among the highlights will be a new walk-through store from World Duty Free Group and several new F&B brands, while some existing tenants – WHSmith, Boots, Travelex, Accessorize and Traveller – will move to new outlets.
The airport said customers will also benefit from an improved sense of flow as they pass through the curved walkways, seating areas and streamlined shop fronts of the new departure lounge.
Newcastle International Airport CEO Dave Laws said: “The departure lounge development will completely transform the airside experience for our customers. We are confident that the new layout will be more intuitive and will help passengers to make a more informed choice on where they shop, eat, drink or simply relax before their flight.
“The departure lounge will have a modern and vibrant shopping-centre feel – something that we know from feedback is what our customers want. We are meeting the needs of the modern traveller with excellent facilities.
“Existing brands such as WH Smith, Boots, Travelex, Accessorize and Traveller will move into new stores, while a host of additional new brands will join us before the project is finished in summer 2015.
“The first phase of the development is now complete. The Flying Hippo has opened to great feedback from passengers who enjoy the sense of fun and exceptional food. The Beer House also welcomed its first customers recently and is very popular with passengers wishing to sample some of the best local beers on offer.
“In addition, we recently opened the doors of our new Aspire Lounge which is the largest in the UK. The Lounge is available for all passengers. We are also the first in the country to have an AspirePlus Lounge which offers an adult only area with an enhanced menu, premium drinks package and exclusive Spey Whisky bar.”
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Newcastle Airport CEO Dave Laws, SSP Chief Marketing Officer Lucy Knowles and Councillor Iain Malcolm at the newly opened Flying Hippo |
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Newcastle International Airport Commercial Director Gill Caleary said: “The development, where possible, will capture the flavours and sense of the North-east. We are using local suppliers and ingredients whenever we can to make the customer feel relaxed and at home, whilst showcasing the best of what we have for visitors.”
David Rees of AMP Capital, which holds a 49% stake in the airport, said: “This development is an important part of the commercial strategy for the airport. The new departure lounge is a major investment by the airport, and its business partners, for the benefit of passengers. The plans are very exciting.”
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The Aspire Lounge is said to be the biggest at a UK airport |
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Lucy Knowles, Chief Marketing Officer for SSP, said: “Creating a restaurant and bar that captured the spirit of the North East and offered food with genuine local provenance was a top priority for Newcastle International Airport. When we were designing the two new concepts, Flying Hippo and The Beer House, we worked with local suppliers from day one. Both our new outlets allow passengers to experience a real taste of the region – from locally produced beers such as Tyne Bank Silver Dollar, to burgers, ribs and bacon from local butchers Manners, and sausages and pork scratchings from Dropswell Farm, County Durham.
“Novel concepts such as smoking ovens especially imported from America add an exciting twist to the menus, and innovations such as Asti Spumante served “˜on tap’ or home-made “˜bar bits’ make Flying Hippo and The Beer House exciting places to start a trip.”
Shaun Weston, Travel Services Director from Aspire Lounge operator Swissport commented: “We are delighted to be bringing a brand new concept to Newcastle Airport. Both the Aspire and AspirePlus Lounges support the airport’s commitment to passenger wellbeing and we look forward to helping Newcastle Airport achieve their goal to be the most welcoming airport in the UK. The new lounge means that customers travelling from Newcastle Airport can expect exceptional service and fantastic facilities in a comfortable, modern environment specifically designed to meet their needs.”
