Etihad launches arrivals lounge in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airway’s Abu Dhabi arrivals lounge. — Supplied photo

The luxurious facility is the first Arrivals Lounge to be operated by Etihad Airways in the world, offering a stylish and modern environment for the exclusive use of the airline’s First and Business Class guests. It also boasts a convenient location, immediately after customs.

Highlights include a dedicated area to freshen-up before leaving the airport, with 10 revitalising shower units, each equipped with luxurious amenities and linked to a complimentary service for clothes steaming. As part of the offering, garments such as suits and dresses can be steamed by housekeeping while guests shower, and will be returned within 10 minutes.

The innovative new ‘SHAVE by Etihad Airways’ concept has also been introduced inside the lounge, with guests offered a complimentary refreshing wet shave by fully-qualified barbers. Access is also provided to a dedicated relaxation area, with high-comfort seating, large screen televisions, and an array of local and international newspapers, magazines and books. Café style refreshments are served throughout the day, including a delicious breakfast offering in the morning, hot and cold beverages, and a delectable range of canapés, snacks and sweet treats, all freshly prepared by a culinary team and inspired by gourmet flavours from around the world. Guests looking for a quiet and productive space to prepare for meetings can utilise the onsite business facility, which features a large-screen Apple computer, printer, and complimentary broadband and wireless internet connections.

Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Our latest airport lounge is a milestone for Etihad Airways and has been launched following extensive market research into the requirements of our First and Business Class guests.

This facility, the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi, has been specifically designed to meet their needs and our innovative new offerings, such as the clothes steaming service and ‘SHAVE by Etihad Airways’, will hold particular appeal for guests with early morning arrivals, before hotel check-in hours.

“Once again, we have benchmarked ourselves against some of the world’s leading hotels and restaurants, while placing the warmth of Arabian hospitality at the heart of the experience.”

Etihad Airways currently operates a global network of 11 airport lounges, including the new Arrivals Lounge, and its existing First and Business Class facilities at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The airline’s international lounges are located in Dublin, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Manchester, Paris, Sydney and Washington DC, with future locations set to include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Melbourne and Milan. More than 280,000 guests visited Etihad Airways’ lounges between January and July 2014, an increase of over 20 per cent year-on-year.

— business@khaleejtimes.com