Emirates opens new first class lounge at Sydney airport

Surprising things came out of the opening of the new First/business class lounge for Emirates at Sydney airport. The Deputy Premier and State Minister for Transport the Hon John Watkins who officiated at the ceremony, arrived by train rather than by Ministerial car announcing to everyone that the train was on time. Tongue in cheek he added that the airlines should follow the NSW railways good example for timely departures and arrivals.

He also said to the surprise of many, that the amount of freight that Emirates now carried out of Australia put them in third place in the Australian air freight market segment. Talking to Richard Vaughan Senior VP Commercial Operations East Asia and Australia for Emirates, he said the increase had been a gratifying adjunct to a hard but successful push for penetration and market share of the passenger market from Australia to the Middle East and beyond to Europe and other destinations.

Whilst Vaughan said that Emirates might consider a dedicated freight aircraft for Australia and NZ he said he thought that the excellent frequency of service offered by Emirates on its regular passenger services to the cities of Australian and NZ was what stimulated this unexpected bonus in the airlines freight compartments.

Indeed it was the frequency and popularity of the Emirates service from Sydney with a daily direct Airbus 340-500 flight from Sydney to Dubai and a second daily departure to Dubai but via Bangkok using Boeing 777 -300ER aircraft that encouraged Emirates to invest so heavily in an Emirate’s exclusive First/Business class lounge. The lounge dedicated to the sole use of Emirates, will also cater for the daily Emirates Sydney –Auckland and Christchurch flights.

The lounge is situated adjacent to and on the same level as the SYD departure area and covers some 850 metres of floor space with a panoramic view out on to the apron and towards Botany Bay. The natural wood furniture and fittings with lounge chairs upholstered in a cream caramel Scottish Leather, Italian marble settings and a set of wall clocks each in the style of a Rolex watch and showing city times around the world create elegance and enhance the spacious facility. If you can steer your way around the Pol Roger and other tasteful vintages plus the chef prepared food you can utilize the business centre or in transit luxury of shower and bathroom facilities.

The Sydney lounge one of the largest of any airline lounge in Australia and its 2 and a half million dollar fitment costs reflects the seriousness that Emirates views attracting high net worth passengers. This marketing strategy was further emphasized by Deputy Premier Watkins who stressed the high value that his government placed on the Emirates support of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Sydney lounge has been joined by Emirate amenities in Brisbane and Perth and all are available to First or Business passengers or those holding a Gold card in the airlines own Skywards frequent flyer scheme.

Emirates have ordered far more Airbus 380 aircraft than any other airline and they will progressively put the double deck airliner into service phasing out “older” aircraft. Culling older airplanes may pose a problem for Emirates management as the average fleet age today is only 3.5 years; it will be interesting to hear what Emirates considers “old”.  VP Richard Vaughan thought that the Sydney run would see the A380 earlier rather than later in its Emirates colours and in all likelihood a 3 class configuration of 487 seats.

By the end of 2006 Emirates, by adding more Perth flights, will have reached the maximum of 49 flights per week currently permitted by the Australian government... Vaughan said that is highly probable that they will ask for more landing rights but whilst he and Emirates understand why Qantas might resist such proposals they are adamant that the new traffic created by Emirates is equal to or better than the passengers taken by Emirates from the Australian carrier. Emphasizing this view Richard Vaughan hammered home the point that Emirates would welcome Qantas taking up traffic rights to Dubai and beyond.