Etihad Airways has opened its new Premium Lounge at Melbourne Airport, offering corporate travellers a stylish, comfortable environment in which they can relax, re-energise, dine, work or be entertained pre-flight. Located in Terminal 2 adjacent to gate 10, the lounge will open approximately three hours prior to the departure of Etihad Airways’ twice daily Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights.

A natural light filled space with floor-to-ceiling glass, the new Premium Lounge offers expansive views across the runway. At more than 800sqm with seating capacity for up to 133 guests, it is the airline’s largest Premium Lounge outside Abu Dhabi. A centrepiece of the new lounge is the intimate 26-seat dining area. Here guests will enjoy the airline’s signature hospitality with restaurant-style a la carte dining and an international buffet.

Another striking feature is the sculptural showcase bar, stocked with wines from Victorian makers and more than 70 premium spirits, champagne and aperitifs.  A bespoke cocktail menu is also available. The innovative selection, developed in partnership with leading London-based beverage consultancy Fluid Movement, includes one-of-a-kind cocktails with destination-inspired names like Melbourne, Sydney, Paris and New York.

In addition, high-speed wifi connectivity is complimentary and multi-zone electric and USB power outlets are conveniently located throughout the lounge. With the commencement of A380 services from June 1, guests in The Residence will enjoy the exclusivity of a private lounge, discreetly located adjacent to the main lounge.

“The new Premium Lounge at Melbourne Airport is in a class of its own – it is the airport lounge as it is commonly known, totally reimagined,” says Shane O’Hare, Etihad Airways’ senior vice president marketing. “Blending the best of a fine dining restaurant and a chic city cocktail bar, this lounge is a showcase of intelligent design and sophistication where guests will enjoy the highest levels of comfort and luxury, complemented by our world-class hospitality, culinary innovation and cutting-edge beverage technology.”

Guests in The Residence, First Apartments and Business Studios are invited to visit the lounge pre-flight. Platinum, Gold and Silver members of Etihad Guest and eligible members of Etihad Airways Partners and partner airline loyalty programs are also able to use the lounge when travelling in Economy Class. www.etihad.com