Qantas closes Alice Springs lounge ahead of refresh

Qantas is pulling down the shutters on its Qantas Club at Alice Springs Airport so that the space can be given a refreshing facelift.

The gussied-up Alice Springs Qantas Club will sport new furniture, and more of it – the total seating capacity will increase by some 25%, up to 105 guests. Those visitors will be able to tuck into "a larger buffet area with a variety of food and beverage options", the airline says.

Other improvements will include multi-purpose work benches and a goodly peppering of AC/USB outlets throughout the lounge, reflecting that almost everybody these days seems to travel with either a smartphone, tablet or laptop (and often at least two of those).

"Customers will have access to meeting rooms, shower suites, high-speed WiFi, news and Foxtel (and) flexible zones to work or relax with front row views of the runway," the airline promises.

The lounge's new look is being shaped by Darwin-based Gabbert Design and will draw from local influences in both materials and colours, "with timber finishes and palette inspired by the region" – similar to what's been done at other regional lounges such as Karratha (pictured atop this article).

But there's no gain without at least a little pain. In the case of the Alice Springs Qantas Club, this means the lounge will be closed  from February 3 until late March 2020. Lounge-worthy passengers checking in for Qantas flights will be provided with a $15 voucher for the airport's Café Terra Rossa.

David Flynn

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.