Virgin Australia has revealed the new look of its refurbished Melbourne lounge as it reopened on Monday to complete the airline’s national lounge network.
Closed in March 2020, the reopened lounge is the biggest in the Virgin network and takes on a more relaxed and contemporary look for the 500 guests who can be seated under COVID guidelines.
There are new bathroom and shower facilities as well as zoned areas for passengers to work or relax with ambient lighting, greenery and modern and refreshed furniture.
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There are plenty of spaces in which to relax but workbenches continue to offer power and data and meeting rooms will ultimately be available for hire when COVID-safe requirements permit.
“As part of our commitment to investing in great experiences for our guests, it was important that we elevated the standard of the Melbourne Lounge, which first opened over eight years ago, in line with our new and fresh Lounge design thinking,” said Virgin chief customer officer Paul Jones.
“Frequent flyers can expect to see more ‘Virgin Flair’ through signage, seating areas, bathrooms and the general aesthetics. It’s a truly wonderful space that’s been given a new lease on life.
“We are starting to see the easing of restrictions while Australia opens up and vaccination rates climb, and it’s great to have the Melbourne Lounge once again firing on all cylinders as booking demand returns to the market.
“Since the government announced the easing of state border restrictions, we have seen a surge in bookings for the holiday season which is great news and demonstrates the pent-up demand we’ll experience from now and throughout the summer holiday period.”
The Melbourne lounge joins facilities in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth. the airline will also be reopening its exclusive premium lounges, previously known as the Club.
Funky new signage welcomes customers into the refurbished lounge and is a signature feature throughout the lounge.
The Gallery Lounge offers stunning views of the tarmac with comfy chairs and ottomans.
The “Wake Up” coffee bar offers a barista-served cuppa, while the “Wind Down” wine bar is the place to find a premium selection of local beers, ciders and Australian wine. An adjacent chill-out zone has a focus on single seating for the solo traveler to unwind.
An all-day dining services features a new menu with dishes such as black rice, beetroot with walnut and fetta salad; potato rosti with crispy bacon; and baked beans and Karaage chicken served with slaw and mayonnaise.
