$60m refresh for Air NZ lounges
Regional passengers among those being offered more comfort at airports
Air New Zealand’s new Auckland Airport regional lounge opens to customers this weekend as part of a $60 million spend on lounges throughout the country over the next two years.
The big build comes as the airline does more flying to the regions following Jetstar’s withdrawal, and as the demand for more comfort at airports shows no sign of slowing.
The airline has revealed it is also about to start work on refurbishing its Auckland Airport domestic lounge, for main-trunk travellers. And although it has no details yet, it is nearing a call that will ease pressure on its international lounge at the airport.
Access to the international lounge has sometimes been restricted because of overcrowding. The airline says that in regard to a second international lounge, it is working with Auckland Airport to increase space.
“We hope to make a positive announcement on this soon,” an airline spokeswoman said.
The upgrades will include domestic lounges at Auckland and Wellington airports, which also gets tight around peak travel times, and new regional lounges in Nelson and New Plymouth.
At Auckland, the new regional lounge is at the eastern end of the domestic terminal. It will open on Saturday and cater for up to 265 customers — three times the seating of the previous space.
On Level 1 of the terminal above the airline’s old regional lounge, it offers wide views over the runway.
A new valet service area has also been constructed as part of the project.
The integrated design features a new and expanded undercover dropoff zone directly below the lounge, providing valet customers with an easy transition to the lounge and to regional departure gates.
There are several different zones in the new lounge, including a bar/ barista area, buffet and light refreshments, a self-service drinks station, as well as business, lounge and quiet areas.
House of Travel commercial director Brent Thomas said the old regional lounge at Auckland had been frustrating for some passengers because it was too small and the new one would provide a level of service that customers have expected, given the price they pay for Koru Club membership.
“Just because someone is travelling from Napier to Auckland on a regular basis shouldn’t mean that they’re missing out on half the services in the regional part. It has to have certain minimum standards,” he said.
“We all know that we have to get to the airport well in advance of our flights, and to make it productive time people use those lounges to work in and often with those late flights it’s the place where you have that meal before you get home.”
He said there had been negative customer feedback about the lounge experience. “One of those things between the airlines and the airport in Auckland is they don’t plan far enough ahead. We know Auckland Airport is in catch-up mode on a number of fronts.”
Air NZ says its Auckland domestic lounge will be refurbished soon, with work to be completed in mid-2020.
The refurbishment will involve a refresh of the cafe and bar/barista area, self-service food and drinks station, children’s play area, as well as business lounge and quiet areas. There would be 10 per cent more seating and more showers.
Refurbishment of its Wellington domestic lounge is under way and expected to be completed late next month.
Seat numbers in that lounge will increase by 10 per cent to 374. There will also be six zones in the new lounge, including a cafe and bar, barista station, business, lounge and quiet areas as well as a self-service food and drinks station.
In August, the airline also expanded the regional lounge in Wellington, adding 56 seats.
The new regional lounge at the redeveloped Nelson Airport terminal is expected to open before Christmas and a new regional lounge at New Plymouth Airport is scheduled to open early next year.
Demand for regional lounge space at Air New Zealand will grow as it adds hundreds more regional flights to its schedule at the start of next year following the withdrawal of Jetstar’s regional services.
The airline announced this week that it will run an additional 586 oneway flights from January to March on services it operates between Auckland and Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson and Palmerston North, as well as between Nelson and Wellington.
Air NZ announced late last month it would be adding an extra 253 oneway services on the same routes in December, reflecting an increase of more than 15,500 extra seats in that month alone.