Etihad Airways, The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, which operates highly popular twice daily flights from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi and onwards to 45 destinations around the globe, has announced details of a multi-million dollar re-design and refurbishment of its premium lounge in Terminal 1 at Abu Dhabi airport.
The work will see the creation of new, bigger state-of-the-art lounge facilities, which will open in two phases over the coming months, with phase one set to open in mid-February.
More than three times the size of the existing facility, the new 855 square metre lounge will be able to cater for up to 200 customers at any one time, and will feature an exclusive new area for first class customers as well as an improved business class lounge section.
First class customers will be able to eat prior to their flight in a new fine dining area, which offers an a la carte as well as a snack menu. All meals will be prepared in a new ‘open kitchen’ and be accompanied by a range of new wines and beverages.
Other key features of the new-look lounge include a TV ‘den’ area, a hi-tech computer and electronic games room, a viewing deck looking out onto the airfield as well as a ‘well-being’ zone where customers will be able to enjoy a range of relaxing spa treatments.
The interior design of the new lounge features luxurious furnishings from around the world, including elegant leather products from renowned Italian furniture designers, Poltrona Frau.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ executive vice president of marketing and product said: “Our new Abu Dhabi lounge facilities represent a major investment and demonstrate the airline’s commitment to deliver world-class premium products and services to its first and business class customers, both in-flight and on the ground.
“We have employed the talents of designers and interior experts from across the world to create a world-class facility at our Abu Dhabi base which we believe will be a massive hit with our customers and the envy of our competitors.”
The creation of the new lounge is being carried out in two co-ordinated phases to minimise disruption to customers. The first phase, construction of the brand new first class lounge area, is already well underway and it is due to open in mid-February.
Work on the second phase, the refurbishment of Etihad’s existing lounge to be used by the airline’s business class customers, will start shortly after the first class lounge has opened and is scheduled to be completed by the end of February.
Several elements of the Terminal 1 lounge are expected to be incorporated into Etihad’s new Terminal 3 premium lounges, due to open later this year.
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