£1.3m Emirates lounge opens at airport
EMIRATES has boosted its service to business class flyers in the West Midlands with a £1.3m investment in Birmingham International Airport.
The airline has spent the money equipping a new luxury departure lounge at the airport to cater for the exclusive needs of its growing list of business customers.
Such is the demand for business seats to the UAE that the airline has had to double capacity and wanted a facility that reflected the enhanced customer offering.
Laurie Berryman, manager Emirates UK North, said: “Birmingham is a very important airport for us and we naturally wanted a facility that reflected this and one which offered our customers the same level of service they receive once they board our aircraft.”
The new lounge, which is the first dedicated facility of its kind to be offered at BIA by a long-haul airline, is the second to open in the UK within the space of six months, following the opening in October of a similar one in Manchester.
First Class and Business Class passengers, plus Gold Skywards members, travelling on Emirates’ twice-daily service from Dubai to Birmingham will be able to relax in comfort prior to their flights.
The 7,000 sq ft sanctuary is situated opposite the airline’s departure gate – number 54 – in the new international pier of Terminal 1.
The Emirates Lounge caters for up to 117 passengers and is equipped with luxury leather seating, plasma televisions showing the latest news, a business centre with complimentary internet access and full shower facilities.
Guests will also enjoy an extensive menu of complimentary hot and cold gourmet dishes, accompanied by a full bar service.
Mohammed Mattar, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, airport services, who officially opened the lounge, said: “This significant investment to our operation at Birmingham further highlights our commitment to the region and the importance of our twice-daily service to the Midlands.
“We hope our premium customers will enjoy this new facility next time they fly with us and look forward to experiencing our trademark attentive service for which we are renowned.”
Paul Kehoe, BIA chief executive, said: “Emirates has been operating flights between Birmingham and Dubai for 10 years now and over this time it has provided a vital connection for the Midlands, not just to the Middle East, but onwards to all corners of the globe.
“We are therefore delighted to see the opening of this stunning new facility in our new International Pier, which signifies a long-term commitment by the airline to Birmingham and the wider region.”
In September last year, the airline helped the airport celebrate its 70th birthday by sending one of its Airbus A380s to visit – the first ever flight by the superjumbo to a UK regional airport.
