Qantas has announced plans to refurbish of the airline’s terminal and lounges in Brisbane. Under the plan, announced today, both the domestic and international lounges are set to change, with overall completion set for 2017. As part of the refurbishment plan for the domestic terminal and lounge, capacity will be increased by almost one third.
The higlights of the changes announced are:
- A single international lounge replacing the existing first and business lounges
- Development of a ‘Lounge Precinct’ in the Qantas Domestic terminal
- New Qantas Domestic Business and Chairman’s Lounge
- Redesigned and Expanded Domestic Qantas Club
International
In the international terminal, the First and Business Lounges will be combined and redesigned to create a single ‘premium’ lounge experience.
The loss of the First lounge is perhaps not surprising, given the lack of flights with a First cabin out of Brisbane. This follows the trend that has been set with consolidation the consolidation of lounges at Singapore and Hong Kong airports.
While Qantas does not offer a First cabin on any of its international flights from Brisbane, the lounge was able to be used by platinum members of its Frequent Flyer program.
Having said that, the Brisbane First lounge was small, and considered somewhat dated by many. Indeed, it was somewhat inferior to its counterpart lounges in Melbourne and Sydney.
Domestic
A new lounge precinct will be constructed in a domestic terminal expansion. This plan will see the existing Qantas Club redesigned, and the construction of a new Business Lounge and Chairmans Lounge. Overall, lounge capacity is said to be increasing by 30%.
Construction in Brisbane will begin by the end of this year, with the projects to be completed on a staged basis throughout 2016 and early 2017.
