Airport Hospitality World: 20 airport lounges that feel like luxury hotels – Travel Pug

AIRPORT HOSPITALITY WORLD DAILY ROUND-UP

{Note: The Moodie Davitt Report is launching an Airport Hospitality World enewsletter as part of our popular Curated series. For your free subscription please email Kristyn@MoodieDavittReport.com headed ‘Airport Hospitality World Subscription’. Please send your press releases to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com while for advertising enquiries please contact Sonia Menezes at Sonia@MoodieDavittReport.com}

8 June

20 airport lounges that feel like luxury hotels – Travel Pug

INTERNATIONAL. “Airport lounges used to be basic waiting areas with stale coffee and uncomfortable chairs,” writes Carina Sandoval on Travel Pug.

“Today’s premium lounges have transformed into spaces that rival five-star hotels, complete with spa services, gourmet dining, and accommodations that make you forget you’re even in an airport.

“The best lounges around the world now offer experiences that make flight delays welcome.”

Click here to read her 20-strong choice.

{The Al Mourjan Business Lounge South at Hamad International Airport features prominently in Airport Wonders of the World, a Moodie Davitt STUDIO film series launched last year dedicated to the world’s great airports. The acclaimed 080 Lounges at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru will form an integral component of the second edition, to be shot at the Karnataka gateway this July.}

5 June

The affluent leisure traveller revealed by Airport Dimensions 

INTERNATIONAL. A recent study by Airport Dimensions, a global specialist in developing and operating airport experiences, has defined an emerging travel demographic known as the affluent leisure traveller (ALT).

Redefining airport revenue, the affluent leisure travellers – who comprise 42% of 10,300 surveyed frequent travellers – account for 81% of reported airport spend, driven by a preference for comfort, choice and premium experiences.

With higher spend and expectations, engaging this high-value segment offers strong potential for the airport’s future commercial growth.

The findings were drawn from the Airport Experience (AX25) research, a comprehensive study exploring airport innovation and traveller trends based on insights from over 10,000 frequent travellers across 16 countries.

The study also sheds light on who the ALT is and how to win their loyalty and spending.

Click here for the full story.

‘Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited’ as CAVU goes for growth

INTERNATIONAL. Passenger services specialist CAVU has opened or refitted nine new Escape Lounges across three continents in the first half of 2025 alone, according to CEO Martin Jones.

“From the vibrant energy of Kansas City to the calm of Brisbane, each one is a reflection of its location and of the people who bring it to life,” he says, writing on LinkedIn.

CAVU was founded by MAG (Manchester Airports Group). The CAVU acronym stems from the aviation, meteorology term ‘Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited’ – designating the perfect flying conditions, where the ceiling is more than 10,000 feet and the visibility is more than ten miles.

4 June

New dimensions for Airport Dimensions

PERU. Airport Dimensions has reinforced its South American presence with the opening of two locations at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru.

The debut of The Club LIM and Sleepover concepts represents the company’s largest market entry to date, featuring its first Club location outside the USA and the roll-out of a newly rebranded sleep concept across Latin America.

The launch also features the company’s first sleep facility outside the Middle East, Peru’s only premium airport sleep option, and one of the largest lounges in The Club’s global portfolio.

The dual-concept strategy was developed to offer a distinctive passenger experience, while enhancing commercial returns, leveraging Jorge Chávez International Airport’s status as Peru’s only international airport and main gateway for 23 million annual travellers {click here for the full story}.

3 June

Reconnecting at The Bridge

HONG KONG, CHINA. Cathay Pacific Airways is celebrating the successful recent reopening of The Bridge, its renowed Terminal 1 lounge near Gate 35.

The Bridge opened in 2013 but closed during the pandemic as passenger flow evaporated into a trickle.

This article, courtesy of Cathay Pacific, outlines The Bridge’s beautifully reimagined design, ambience and improved services through the joint lens of Cathay Head of End to End Customer Experience and Strategy Marcus Lui and Customer Experience Manager – Lounge Portfolio & Strategy Vivien Sun.

“Aesthetically, the intent is to bring The Bridge in line with the contemporary Cathay Pacific lounge design language,” Lui observes.

“At the same time, this lounge also has many innovative features that we’re going to apply to Hong Kong International Airport lounges as well as our global lounges in the future.”

Click here to read the full feature.

2 JUNE

New lounge opeators at Ben Gurion Airport

ISRAEL. Jetex in a joint proposal with powerful local company Layam, and Swissport in a joint proposal with Israeli ground service operator QAS (Swissport International and Knafaim Israel), have been awarded the two concessions to operate hospitality lounges at Ben Gurion International Airport Terminal 3, Israel Airports Authority confirmed to The Moodie Davitt Report.

The story first broke in The Jerusalem Post.

The contract is for six years, with an option to extend for an additional 36 months.

The winners will replace incumbent Dan Hotels.

As reported, Israel Airports Authority issued a public tender in January seeking partners to manage up to five VIP lounges at the country’s main air terminal.

Israel Airports Authority views the VIP Lounges Services as a key T3 passenger facility. To improve service levels, increase competition and allow for operational flexibility, it opted for a dual-operator model.

Ben Gurion International Airport VIP lounges are used by first-class and business-class passengers and members of various frequent flyer programmes and customer clubs, whose memberships grant access to the lounges and also allow paid access to all other passengers.

The VIP Lounges are located in two main areas:

A) Two lounges in Concourse E and Concourse B at the Departures Hall, and the lounge in the eastern gallery of the Arrivals Hall (currently the ‘Arbel’ Lounge);

B) The lounge in Concourse C and another in the ‘Small Rotunda (roundabout)’ in the Departures Hall.

Swissport operates more than 100 Aspire Executive Lounges in global airports.

Jetex operates lounges at multiple airport locations including Paris, Marseille, Madrid, Malaga, Abu Dhabi and Asia. Layam is well-known in the airport world as a duty-free retailer.

Plaza goes premium in Johor Bahru

MALAYSIA. Plaza Premium Lounge has opened its latest passenger facility at Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru, bringing together what the company described as Malaysian charm and modern comfort.

Passengers can access a special -30% discount launch offer at the Senail lounge until 14 June 2025.

The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce Airport Hospitality World, the latest edition to its wide-ranging, market-leading travel retail and airport non-aeronautical revenues publishing and event portfolio. Airport Hospitality World covers all forms of airport lounges across international and domestic terminals, including various definitions as follows: Pay-per-use First Class and Business Class Airline-affiliated Alliance-based Credit card-linked Plus other hospitality-related platforms: Airport hotels Meet & Greet Concierge services Rewards Baggage wrap and other related services Miscellaneous passenger support programmes (buggies, porter services and more) Pet facilities and services Excitingly, the long-established Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards will embrace Airport Hospitality World from the 2026 edition – the event’s 15th anniversary. The event will take on an extended form, featuring an exhibition and the ultimate one-stop airport hospitality and food & beverage conference and awards platform.