Virgin Australia to open Cairns Airport lounge in October
By David Flynn, August 27 2013
Virgin Australia is set to open a new lounge at Cairns Airport later this year, adding to the airline's regional lounge network.
Located on the upper level of the domestic terminal, the lounge will seat 180 guests "and encapsulate Virgin Australia’s distinct look and feel", a spokeswoman for Virgin Australia confirmed to Australian Business Traveller.
"The space will offer a range of facilities we know are important to our guests including dedicated areas to relax, recharge and refuel as well as a meeting room, a range of entertainment options, a gourmet menu designed by Luke Mangan and a barista station."
Although the spokesperson would not be drawn on an opening date for the new lounge, an online job listing by Virgin's lounge contractor Alliance Catering cites the lounge as opening in October.
The catering firm is seeking a lounge manager, shift supervisors and "food and beverage attendants with strong barista experience" with a key criteria being "exceptional coffee making skills". Bravo, Alliance!
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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.
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 20
Alliance were the cateres at my boarding school and they were terrible. They seem to be doing a better job with the lounges though!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2012
Total posts 7
Great news as it gives a incentive, other than the ticket price, And super sleuthing, David! Nice way to get around the "no comment" on the opening date.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
This would be great news for Cairns and travellers using VA. Well done VA!
VA already have an impressive timetable in/out of Cairns with 6 flights a day with economy/business class, for example, between CNS and BNE, twice the frequency of QF (ignoring JQ).
The lounge is the missing piece, with QF currently more attractive for flgihts departing CNS given their large upstairs lounge, which has recently had a minor facelift, and has long been manned by very helpful staff.
VA's aggressive pricing on the CNS routes has forced some appealing price points from QF in business, with the QF price gouging being brought back down to earth with some far more realistic business fares ($500-$600 compared to >>$1,000) in recent months.
Amazing what a little competition will do!
The timing is good - tourism in CNS seems to be picking up this year and there are some very ambitious plans for a mega-resort complex at Yorkeys Knob ("Aquis") with 9 new hotels, etc., to be built by 2018 subject to EIS and SIA requirements set by the Coordinator General of QLD State Gov....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 41
We need a lounge in Townsville!!! I suppose they are waiting for the terminal upgrades to go ahead..... Whenever that is gonna happen.
09 Sep 2012
Total posts 139
Hear hear, but with VA's current focus we must be grateful for any crumbs which fall north of JB's place.
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