Etihad Airways is pulling back the curtains on its all-new first and business class lounges at Abu Dhabi Terminal A ahead of their official debut on November 9, when the airline begins limited operations at the hub before swinging all flights across less than a week later.
The opening of Terminal A, formerly dubbed the Midfield Terminal, is a long time coming – construction started more than a decade ago. But, with the ceremonial first flight already departed, the time has come at last for travellers to step inside.
As expected, its design is a thing of beauty: sand-coloured archways soar across its retail and dining; state-of-the-art check-in and security facilities promise a seamless passenger experience.
(A 10-minute free shuttle ride can zip you between Terminal A and its siblings, with the airline advising passengers to check terminal information within 72 hours of their flight.)
But, for well-heeled travellers and frequent flyers, Etihad’s all-new First Class Lounge and Business Class Lounge are arguably the most exciting developments. We now have our first glimpse within.
Both first and business class have their own check-in areas. Those in business class have an exclusive row of check-in desks…
…while first class flyers can recline in comfort, enjoying a personalised check-in experience.
Spanning three light-filled floors, the lounges themselves feature an array of culinary options including a live cooking station and buffet, along with a glamorous rooftop cocktail bar.
The first class lounge is also home to ‘The Parlour’, where travellers can enjoy chocolates, pastries, Arabian delicacies, and an elegant afternoon tea.
Multiple ‘relaxation spaces’ – private rooms housing low-set lounges – and shower facilities are also part of the deal, while a games room and parents room are on-hand for those travelling with children.
Those popping into the business class lounge will find a spa and salon where you can get a haircut, manicure or pedicure (first class guests are of course welcome inside).
On first impressions, the aesthetic is decidedly more contemporary than previous Etihad lounges, swapping dark colours for a lighter, fresher palette with pale timber floors and chocolate carpets throughout.
Burgundy, cream and caramel-coloured lounges are interspersed with stone benches and coffee tables, with a characteristic-yet-subtle splash of golden bling too.
Executive Traveller understands well over 1,000 travellers will be accommodated across the lounges, with the first class wing welcoming high flyers in the returned Etihad A380s, which will be darting three times a day between Abu Dhabi and London by early December.
Lounge access is complimentary if you’re flying in first class, hold an eligible business class ticket, or are an eligible Etihad Guest member. Velocity Platinum frequent flyers are also on the first lounge guest list, when booked on an Etihad-operated flight.
More than a decade in the works
Beginning construction in 2012, the US$3bn Midfield Terminal project was conceived at a time when the government-owned airline, under CEO James Hogan, entertained visions of Etihad Airways becoming a globe-spanning colossus to rival the likes of Emirates and Qatar Airways.
That ambition – which was spearheaded by the Airbus A380 with its three-room Residence and spacious first class Apartments – eventually saw the airline lose some US$5b in three years, although this was also fueled by ill-fated investments in the likes of Airberlin and Alitalia.
Years later, Abu Dhabi government and Hogan’s successor Tony Douglas – now CEO of ambitious startup Riyadh Air – changed tack and embarked on a plan to ‘right-size’ the carrier, effectively shrinking itself to profitability.
Now Etihad’s back on a growth trajectory, and Terminal A will prove ample room to spread its wings.
The Gulf airline has added 11 new destinations this year alone, with a growing fleet of Airbus A350s and a fresh batch of Boeing 787s with upgraded private business class suites, while its A380 superjumbos are also returning to the skies.
Perched like a glittering jewel in the desert, Terminal A was designed by New York’s Kohn Pedersen Fox, with London-based The Design Solution handling the interior which, when illuminated, will be visible from 16km away.
Located between Abu Dhabi’s two runways, the complex has already guest-starred in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, including not just the interior of the cavernous X-shaped megastructure but as the centrepiece of an action scheme with Tom Cruise atop the wave-like roof designed to mimic rolling desert dunes.
The central 740,000m2 terminal houses a dizzying array of shops, restaurants and cafes, along with a transit hotel and space earmarked for up to eight airline lounges.
An estimated 30 million passengers will pass through each year – as many as 11,000 per hour – making their way and from 65 gates spread across the two massive piers.
Each wing of the twin piers is ‘themed’ in accordance with the direction it faces – towards the city, ocean, desert and oasis – while the 50-metre high departure hall is largely column free, giving a perception of an outdoor space enhanced by the soaring glazed windows.
“Terminal A underscores our dedication to providing our international passengers and partners with a premium airport experience,” promises Elena Sorlini, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Airports – and that experience should be a speedily efficient one, given the promise of a minimum connect time of 45 minutes for passengers transferring between flights.
Source: https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/etihad-airways-new-terminal-a-first-business-lounges
