Qantas Announces 100 Million Big Global Lounges Upgrade

Qantas announced that it plans to improve the pre-flight experience for its customers by renovating its network of lounges in Australia and in airports worldwide.

The main lounge renovation will cost around A$100 million and will include the following upgrades openings:

LONDON FIRST LOUNGE

• Construction of a brand new flagship First Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport to align with the launch of Project Sunrise direct flights between the UK and the east coast of Australia. The First Lounge will operate alongside the current International Lounge, which will become a dedicated International Business Lounge. It is expected to open in late 2025.
• It will be the fifth destination to offer a Qantas First Lounge, along with Los Angeles, Melbourne, Singapore, and the original Marc Newson-designed First Lounge in Sydney.

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL LOUNGE 

• Reopening of the Qantas Hong Kong International Lounge was closed and vacated during the pandemic. The lounge is being refreshed, and the new and improved lounge will open in April 2023. The popular yum cha trolley will return.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LOUNGE

• The proposed redevelopment of the existing Qantas Business Class Lounge at Melbourne International Airport features an expanded footprint, increasing capacity by up to 30 per cent to accommodate future passenger growth.
• It will include a complete internal refresh and a new signature food and beverage concept. Work will be carried out in stages from late 2023, targeting stage one, opening in mid-2024.

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LOUNGE

• Redevelopment of existing Business Class Lounge at Sydney International Airport (as previously announced but paused due to the pandemic) pending confirmation of Sydney Airport terminal upgrade plans. Proposal for a full redesign and rebuild from scratch that will increase capacity by 40 per cent to more than 600 seats.
• A new signature food and beverage offering. Work is estimated to commence in early 2024, with completion of stage one estimated by early 2025

HOBART QANTAS CLUB

• Proposed relocation into a brand new Hobart Qantas Club with larger premises in line with the overall terminal redevelopment. Targeting a 50 per cent increase in capacity from 96 to approximately 150 seats.

BROOME REGIONAL LOUNGE

• Construction of a brand new Regional Lounge to open in 2024 that will double the capacity of the existing lounge from 49 to approximately 100 seats following consistently strong demand from premium leisure travellers to the destination.

This new investment in lounges is on top of the previously announced upgrades, including:

• New Auckland International Lounge featuring an edible herb garden (set to open progressively from 2023)
• New Business Lounge at Adelaide Domestic Airport (to open in stages from 2024)
• Full upgrade to Chairmans Lounge at Adelaide Domestic Airport (2025)
• Full upgrade to Qantas Club at Adelaide Domestic Airport (2023)
• New Regional Lounge at Rockhampton Airport (work completed late 2022 and lounge now open)
• Redevelopment of Regional Lounge at Port Hedland Airport (2024)

Customers travelling in Business Class and First on Qantas-operated flights and qualifying oneworld and partner airline passengers are eligible for Qantas lounge access.

The lounge modifications and openings will be staged over three years and are included in the Qantas Group’s current capital expenditure estimate.

The First Lounge at London Heathrow Airport will be built concurrently with the introduction of Project Sunrise direct flights between the United Kingdom and Australia’s east coast.

The fifth destination will offer a Qantas First Lounge after Los Angeles, Melbourne, Singapore, and Sydney.

Qantas has 51 airport lounges (42 in Australia and nine overseas).

“Being back in profit means we’re back to making long-term investments for our customers. That started with the major aircraft order we announced last year, and now we’re building on that with a major investment in our lounges,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.

“Millions of people a year visit our lounges, and they are typically our frequent flyers who travel with us the most, so anything we do to improve.