Virgin Australia lounges coming to Cairns, Canberra & Hobart
By David Flynn, August 29 2012
Virgin Australia's family of airport lounges continues to grow, with a new lounge slated to open at Cairns next year.
Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller that Cairns would join the previously-announced Hobart lounge on the Virgin calendar for 2013.
Both are likely to be based on Virgin Australia's 'regional lounge' model, similar to the airline's lounge at Mackay Airport (shown below).
Hobart and Cairns will get Virgin's 'regional lounge' treatment
The airline will also open its all-new Canberra lounge in March-April, Borghetti said, once Virgin moves into its new home at Canberra Airport's Western Concourse Terminal.
That lounge will be designed along the same lines as Virgin's Melbourne and Brisbane lounges and is expected to include the exclusive The Club area for Virgin's VIP flyers.
Virgin's new Canberra lounge will borrow its design DNA from the slick Melbourne and Brisbane lounges
As for the long-awaited debut of the 'flagship' lounge at Sydney Airport, Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller this would open in two stages, in December and March.
By year's end travellers will be directed to the all-new upstairs level, which already plays host to the first The Club lounge, with sweeping views of Botany Bay and with total capacity for up to 560 passengers – 250 more than the current Sydney lounge.
This will allow the lower level to be closed and given a make-over ahead of a re-opening in March 2013, to result in an impressive double-storey space.
Get the latest updates for business traveller and frequent flyers: follow @AusBT on Twitter.
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.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
The more the merrier. With the Jetstarisation of their routes, this will be another prod to get QF passengers over to VA. Well done.
Qantas
10 Sep 2011
Total posts 162
Any comment on DRW? There is some minor renovations around the terminal at the moment, but nothing that would suggest space for even an AirNZ style cafe until the terminal expansion program kicks in.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Nil more on Darwin, if JB had mentioned anything I'd have dropped that into the article.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
29 Aug 2012
Total posts 23
Below is an email I received within the last few months from a Darwin Airport representative. As far as I know, the timetabling hasn't changed...
construction timetable for the Terminal Expansion ie:
The Virgin Lounge may be completed in the first quarter 2013 but will certainly be completed by June 2013.
Interesting that JB mentioned nothing
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Yeah, considering they flagged this lounge earlier this year it was odd that JB didn't chuck it into the run-down.
Qantas
10 Sep 2011
Total posts 162
I'm not familiar with a sod being turned at the Qantas end of DRW. I know the interior has been tarted up for the international end, so clearing customs is easier. There is a lot of work to do before a lounge can be installed. They must be counting their lucky stars we have an El Nino anticipated this year, which means construction can go right through to December before the wet kicks in.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
29 Aug 2012
Total posts 23
Clarified again with DRW Airport and the situation has changed with the contract yet to be awarded "yet will be awarded shortly".
The majority of construction will occur in 2013. Both ends of the terminal will now be constructed at the same time or near the same time. It is estimated the eastern end will be complete early 2014 and the western end late 2014.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards (Plat)
21 May 2012
Total posts 28
Typical airline view of Hobart - giving a State Capital a regional lounge!
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
You're lucky that Tasmania is even considered a state and not an island belonging to Victoria! :P
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 335
Correct, Tasmania is just one big national park but considering Borghetti wants to serve the corporate market, he sees it worth it because of the amount of politicians. He wants to make the switch viable for as many as possible. Anything that gives him a bigger serving of the corporate travel pie, he seems to appreciate.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
29 Aug 2012
Total posts 23
CBR opening 13 March this year
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
We've heard the same, but are awaiting confirmation from VA/CBR.
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