09 November 2019

British Airways’ Johannesburg Lounge receives a First Class refurbishment

British Airways has unveiled its latest lounge refurbishment in Johannesburg as part of its £6.5 billion investment for customers

The lounge, based in O.R. Tambo International Airport, has undergone significant refurbishment with the new and improved space being converted into one large lounge with a dedicated boutique dining area for First customers. Guests will enjoy a warm welcome and a place to relax or work prior to their departure from Johannesburg to London Heathrow.

The carefully curated lounge follows a new design concept for the airline, which debuted in 2018, and features the very best of British and South African design, delivering a luxurious and contemporary look and feel.

The 880 square metre lounge can host up to 247 customers and offers a modern lobby bar area for socialising, a brasserie dining area and office space with ample work stations with power outlets. A peaceful, separate seating area with a mix of elegant armchairs and banquette seating is available for those who wish to recharge ahead of their journey with complementary magazines and newspapers.

Zoned areas in the lounge will enable guests to choose what area they would like to relax in depending on their mood, with a music system and bespoke playlist. Lighting has been carefully planned by zone and dimmable to reflect the time of day.

The new lobby bar, illuminated by brand new feature lighting, is stocked with a tempting display of spirits, beers and soft drinks together with a selection of fine wines. New kitchen facilities offer an enhanced dining menu of hot and cold options including Cape Malay curry, fresh seasonal salads, mezze, local charcuterie and Indezi river cheeses. First Boutique Dining offers a pre-flight a-la-carte menu carefully curated by the in-house chef, complemented by an extensive wine list.

Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: “We’re delighted to present the next step in our significant customer investment with the re-opening of the Johannesburg lounge. Every detail has been carefully designed and we’ve created a space to meet our customers’ needs – whether they want to relax with a hot meal, work in peace or enjoy a drink at the lobby bar, the lounge will get their travels off to the best start.”

British Airways has this year completed the renovation of its First and Club lounges in New York’s JFK Terminal 7, along with improvements to the customer experience at check-in, which are currently underway. A brand-new, contemporary lounge has also been unveiled in San Francisco, spread across 665 square metres with fantastic views of the runway. Further investment is planned with a new British Airways lounge in Geneva, which is also set to open in 2019.

Access to the lounge is exclusively for customers travelling in Club Europe as well as Executive Club Gold and Silver card holders and oneworld, Emerald and Sapphire members. Guests will enjoy a British Airways’ Johannesburg Lounge prior to their departure from Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International Airport) to London (Heathrow).

The refurbished Johannesburg lounge comes as the airline is investing £6.5 billion for its customers over five years, including the installation of the best quality Wi-Fi and power in every aircraft seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. This year British Airways has also introduced its Club Suite, a new business class seat with direct aisle access.

Edited by Alisè Vitri

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