Qantas To Spend $100m Upgrading Lounge Network

Qantas plans to build a First Class Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport as part of a $100 million investment in its worldwide lounge network. The airline will also reopen its Hong Kong International Lounge and refurbish the abysmal International Business Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as construct new spaces in Hobart and Broome.

The national carrier has an extensive network of airline lounges worldwide, including 42 in Australia and 9 overseas. The plan represents a significant improvement in the pre-flight and transit experience for Qantas Frequent Flyers who will enjoy a new level of luxury at selected destinations.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said that the faster-than-expected recovery in travel demand allowed for accelerated investment in its “award-winning” lounge network.

“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,” said Mr Joyce.

“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 them is a way of saying thank you to our most loyal customers,” he added.

Qantas’ new investment in lounges comes in addition to previously announced upgrades, including;

• New Rockhampton Regional Lounge (now open)
• New Auckland International Lounge featuring an edible herb garden (to open in stages from 2023)
• Upgrade to Adelaide Domestic Qantas Club (2023)
• New Adelaide Domestic Business Lounge (to open in stages from 2024)
• Upgrade to Adelaide Domestic Chairmans Lounge (2025)
• Redevelopment of Port Hedland Regional Lounge (2024)

Today’s announcement encompasses four brand-new lounges alongside upgrades to some of the most tired spaces in the network. Here’s everything you need to know;

London First Class Lounge

A brand new flagship First Class lounge is in the works at London’s Heathrow Airport, to align with the launch of Project Sunrise direct flights between the UK and Australia’s East Coast. The new First Lounge will operate alongside the current International Lounge, which is set to become an International Business Lounge following completion in late 2025.

As long as the flying kangaroo gets the all-clear from Heathrow Airport and UK regulators, the luxury lounge is expected to feature direct access to boarding gates, sweeping apron views, an unrivalled dining experience and a focus on wellbeing.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said London is the perfect location for a First Class Lounge.

“Heathrow is one of the world’s busiest airports so we’re very pleased to be working with them to secure a great space in the terminal for an additional lounge,” said Mr Joyce.

Hong Kong International Lounge

Reopening of the Qantas Hong Kong International Lounge that was closed and vacated during the pandemic. The lounge is currently undergoing a refresh and the new and improved space will open in April 2023. The popular yum cha trolley will return.

Melbourne International Business Lounge

Redevelopment of the existing Qantas International Business Class Lounge at Melbourne, featuring an expanded footprint that will increase capacity by up to 30 per cent. The new design will incorporate a full internal refresh and a new signature food and beverage concept. Work will be carried out in stages from late 2023, with stage one planned to open in mid 2024.

Sydney International Business Lounge

Redevelopment of Sydney’s existing International Business Class Lounge, as was previously announced but delayed due to the pandemic. Although the new design is pending confirmation as part of Sydney Airport’s terminal upgrade plan, Qantas is hoping for a full rebuild from scratch. Capacity is set to increase to 600 seats, with a new signature food and beverage offering also expected. Work is estimated to commence in early 2024 with completion of stage one estimated by early 2025

Hobart Qantas Club

Although it’s been proposed for years, Qantas will finally commit to building a brand new Qantas Club in Hobart. The build is set to integrate within Hobart’s overall terminal redevelopment, which has sat idle in the planning stage for years. Capacity is set to increase by 50 per cent, from 96 to approximately 150 seats.

Broome Regional Lounge

Construction of a brand new Broome Regional Lounge, set to double the current capacity to 100 seats and open in 2024. Qantas says the Broome lounge upgrade comes after consistent strong demand from premium leisure travellers.