• Home
• /
• Local business

Etihad plans to open lounge
in Manchester

This will be the third Etihad lounge to open outside of the airline’s home base in Abu Dhabi, after London and Frankfurt, the airline announced in a Press release here on Friday.

The new 318 square metre lounge will offer the airline’s premium customers a range of features, including five-star dining facilities with a selection of international cuisine, a modern business centre providing individual workstations and privacy for people with laptops. It will also have a prayer room, a family room, where children can be kept entertained by nannies as well as a relaxation area, the release said.

“Manchester has always been an important part of Etihad’s growth plans, and the ties between Manchester and Abu Dhabi have never been stronger. We recently announced a capacity increase of close to 60 per cent on the route from June, and we continue to look for partnership opportunities that deliver real benefits to both regions. The choice of Manchester as the next venue for a dedicated Etihad lounge is yet another example of our long-term commitment to this important route,” the release said quoting Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer.

“The Etihad service to Abu Dhabi is a crucial link between our two closely-linked regions and the addition of a premium lounge demonstrates real confidence in this vital relationship. A premium lounge is a key enhancement for Etihad at Manchester Airport, particularly with the additional capacity provided by the Boeing 777-300 aircraft which will operate the service from June,’’ Andrew Cornish, Manchester Airport’s Managing Director, said.

· ramavarman@khaleejtimes.com