A new taste of luxury has arrived in Singapore’s Changi Airport with the official opening of the latest Qantas First Lounge.
The lounge is spread over 1000 square metres with the capacity to host 240 of the Flying kangaroo’s First Class customers and top tier frequent flyers.
It is the fourth First Lounge in the Qantas network and joins facilities in Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles.
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According to Qantas boss Alan Joyce, the new lounge is in response to an increased demand for premium travel since the carrier’s A380 superjumbos returned to Changi.
“This is our fourth Qantas First Lounge, and each time we build an entire new lounge facility from scratch, we speak to our frequent flyers to get a better understanding of how customers like to spend their time in the lounge and tailor it accordingly,’’ Joyce said.
“Our customers told us their key priorities when traveling through or from Singapore is space to relax and do some last-minute work, a quick shower, and a meal before departure so they can maximize their sleep onboard.”
The latest offering was designed by Australian designer David Caon in collaboration with Kelvin Ho of architecture and design firm Akin Atelie.
An open kitchen and a 157-seat restaurant will serve a Rockpool a la carte seasonal menu inspired by Singapore’s culinary culture such as grilled skate in browned sambal butter with capers, tea-smoked duck breast with pickled cabbage and Chinese mustard as well as a crayfish laska.
It will also include First Lounge favorites such as the chicken club sandwich and salt and pepper squid.
The lounge also features a three-metre marble cocktail bar with lounge seating, serving French champagne, Australian wines, seasonal spritzes and unique, Singapore-inspired cocktails such as a Calamansi Mojito made from the local Calamansi fruit, Singaporean and Australian beer.
Business travelers have the choice to work in an open, communal setting or individual lounge chairs with high dividers. USB and charging ports are located throughout the lounge, with wireless printing, Wi-Fi and TV screens for customers to stay charged and connected.
There are also 10 luxury shower suites with “skylight” lighting and luxury skincare products.
The airline said the wellness concept was a major inspiration in the lounge with live greenery featuring throughout the lounge and the use of natural materials and color palettes.
“We wanted customers to feel a sense of calming luxury as soon as they walk in to the First Lounge, so we combined some of the classic Qantas First Lounge design features, such as the prominent marble and oak seen in the Sydney First Lounge, and added an authentic Singaporean twist featuring plenty of greenery,” Caon said.
