Emirates Airline has 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 and the Honourable Desley Boyle, Minister for Tourism, Regional Development & Industry in Queensland were on hand to officially open the latest Emirates Lounge.

Dale W Griffith said: ‘In May 2003, Emirates made a US$13 million commitment to develop superior quality lounges around the world in an effort to provide passengers with luxurious sanctuaries whilst travelling. In 2004, Brisbane became the first Emirates destination outside of our hub in Dubai to have a dedicated airport lounge and it set the benchmark for all Emirates Lounges across our network.

 

“Five years on, we now have 18 Emirates Lounges across our network and are delighted by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers that make these lounges worth our continuous investments. 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.

 

Desley Boyle said: “The lounge is another important investment by Emirates in Brisbane and Queensland and is a cornerstone of the airport re-development. It will provide the international level of comfort and service expected by business travellers from across the world.”

 

Koen Rooijmans, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation said: “Emirates has been one of the fastest growing international airlines to serve Brisbane and has quickly established itself as a part of the fabric of south-east Queensland. They have helped raise the standard of international air travel, and helped create new and exciting tourism markets for Queensland that have enabled us to improve the services offered to passengers at our airport.”

 

Upon first stepping into the new Emirates Lounge, passengers will appreciate the airline’s distinct attention to detail, from the Italian marble finishes to the rich timber joinery.

 

The amenities in the lounge include recently-introduced massage chairs, comfortable leather armchairs sourced from 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 in a 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 facility.

 

The Brisbane lounge facilities are available to both First and Business Class passengers as well as Gold members of Skywards, Emirates’ frequent flyer program.

 

Besides Brisbane, the airline offers the Emirates Lounge in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Auckland, Bangkok, Dubai (three lounges), Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Munich, New York JFK, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Singapore, with more due to open in 2008.

 

Emirates’ First and Business Class travellers’ enjoy special services on the ground, including complimentary chauffeur-drive 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.

 

To Brisbane Emirates operates the Boeing 777-300ER that features the state-of-the-art lie-flat Business Class seats. New First Class private suites will be introduced in July this year; and a second non-stop service will begin in October this year using the advanced Airbus A340-500.

 

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. 
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