SkyTeam's next airport lounges: Dubai, Beijing, Hong Kong for 2015

New SkyTeam-branded airport lounges will open this year in Dubai, Hong Kong and Beijing, doubling the size of the alliance's lounge network.

A lounge at Dubai's new Concourse D is now on track for mid-year says Fatima da Gloria de Sousa, SkyTeam's Director of Brand & Communications.

"It all depends on opening of the terminal – we had hoped to open pretty soon but right now the terminal is scheduled (to open) in April and so maybe our lounge will open in May or June" de Sousa says.

That will be followed by lounges at Hong Kong and Beijing "around September", de Sousa told Australian Business Traveller on the sidelines of the opening of SkyTeam's new Sydney Airport lounge (shown below).

The three new lounges will also sport a new look compared to those of London, Istanbul and Sydney.

"We're bringing in some new materials," de Sousa explains, "and the introduction of more wood throughout the lounge, and slightly warmer lighting."

The bright orange chairs will be gone but the green 'living' wall will remain a centrepiece of the new facilities.

"The botanical living wall is really iconic for our lounges, it's a distinctive and eye-catching feature and adds a feeling of tranquility. So there won't be a dramatic difference, but we will move towards a warmer atmosphere in the future concept design."

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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.