Air New Zealand has unveiled a new lounge at Sydney Airport’s international terminal, offering premium passengers a quiet space to relax in before flights.

Designed by architectural firm Gentler, the new lounge features an elegant black and white theme and ultra-modern features, along with a glass wine wall, and a chandelier made of 228 hand-blown glass spheres.

At the lounge’s bar, guests can enjoy coffee, wines and cocktails, while food offerings include a standard buffet selection, as well as a ‘food theatre’ serving freshly-made dishes by a resident chef.

Business travellers will particularly appreciate the ‘business zone,’ which features tables well suited for working on laptops, and the ‘quiet nook’ where they can work in silence.

Members of Air New Zealand’s invitation-only Elite Priority One programme can also access a ‘secret’ lounge that offers more privacy.

The new lounge is open to Air New Zealand’s business class and Works Deluxe passengers, Airport Gold or higher tier members, Star Alliance Gold members, and business and first class passengers flying with Star Alliance carriers. Other travellers can also access the lounge for four hours with a fee of US$43. www.airnewzealand.co.nz