Canberra Airport mulls international business class lounge
By David Flynn, February 23 2017
As Canberra Airport looks to add more international flights onto its departure board, the airport's managing body is looking to open a premium lounge for business class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers.
But unlike most Australian airports, the lounge wouldn't belong to any one airline.
Instead, Canberra Airport is believed to be considering its own independently-run premium lounge, either managed by the airport or under contract to a third-party lounge operator.
It's a move which makes sense, considering that the first two airlines to fly out of Canberra – Singapore Airlines and, from 2018, Qatar Airways – belong to different airline alliances.
It also makes allowances for the fact that the lounge would be needed only for a handful hours each day, and that's assuming airlines run a daily flight schedule.
The lounge could also offer pay-in access for economy class travellers who don’t have a suitably shiny frequent flyer card with the respective airline.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
This could work well but would need to be priced reasonably for the airlines otherwise they won't bother taking up the offer from Canberra airport.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
Silk Air uses the Esplanade lounge in Darwin. Have used it 3 times now since it opened.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
30 May 2016
Total posts 11
When flying out of CBR I am able to use the Virgin Lounge (next to International security entrance) so I assume this is mainly for Qatar & as a enticement for future airlines.
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 36
I think this is a great idea for trying to attract a third or even fourth airlines - and from a convenience perspective I love nothing more than sinking into a comfortable chair with a glass of wine AFTER passing through the hurly burly of security.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Feb 2016
Total posts 9
A lounge inside the international zone would interest Singapore as well as others as any international airline can't offer much to business and elite flyers in transit as the existing lounges are in the domestic zone. Virgin can cover Singapore and Qantas covera Qatar (or any other OW airline dor that matter). The transit issue is important as I understand that a greater % of Singapore's current travellers to WLG are SIN origin rather than CBR.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Aug 2013
Total posts 138
This could be a welcome third Australian addition to Priority Pass, potentially!
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
Cannot see the point really. With a good OneWorld lounge in Qantas for QR and the Virgin Lounge for SQ don't see why another 'generic' lounge is needed at all. There can be no doubt it won't be anywhere near the standard of these two, and getting through Immigration and international security is trivial so not much of an impediment.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
I think the issue is that transit passengers have nowhere to go unless they enter the country, which is a hassle (and they can't without their bags) .
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
Yeah makes sense, though still don't think a generic airport lounge would offer that much anyway.
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