Emirates Airline officially opened its new lounge at Brisbane International Airport, unveiling the facility that offers a stunning 360 degree view, and is the first airline lounge in Australia capable of boarding passengers directly to the aircraft – including the upper deck of the Airbus A380.
Dale W Griffith, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates Airport Services, said: “In 2004, Brisbane became the first Emirates destination outside our hub in Dubai to have a dedicated airport lounge and it set the benchmark for all Emirates Lounges across our network. The new Emirates Lounge, the second in Brisbane, continues to embody the airline’s dedication to innovation and superior service.”
More than double the size of the previous one in Brisbane, the new Emirates Lounge can seat 172 guests – 106 in the lounge area, 56 in the dining and 10 in the business centre - and is located adjacent to Gate 75 on the new northern concourse of Brisbane International Airport’s redevelopment.
The amenities in the lounge include recently-introduced massage chairs, comfortable leather armchairs manufactured in Scotland, flat screen televisions, designer bathrooms with shower facilities, and a well-equipped business centre.
Customers will be able to enjoy an extensive menu of complimentary hot and cold gourmet dishes with the choice of formal or informal seating. A complimentary full bar service, including champagne, is offered to guests who can relax while enjoying the unparalleled views of the airport and the surrounding area. Emirates’ trademark attentive service from dedicated lounge staff completes the experience.
The Brisbane lounge facilities are available to both First and Business Class passengers, as well as Gold members of Skywards, Emirates’ frequent flyer program.
Emirates’ First and Business Class travellers’ enjoy special services on the ground, including complimentary chauffeur services at many destinations, exclusive First and Business Class check-in desks and priority baggage handling.
In November 2007, Emirates confirmed Australia’s status as a premier trade and tourism destination by announcing its flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney would grow to 70 a week by 2009.
Emirates currently operates 49 flights per week to Australia, including a double-daily service to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and a daily to Brisbane. From Australia, Emirates also operates 28 weekly flights into New Zealand – daily into Christchurch from Sydney and thrice daily into Auckland from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Emirates flies five times weekly from Dubai to Malta via Larnaca in Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on the Boeing 777-200. The Malta route gives a convenient connection to outgoing and incoming passengers from Australia and the Far East.