Qatar Airways has opened its new Premium Lounge for First and Business Class passengers at London's Heathrow Airport in the presence of VIP guests drawn from the diplomatic world, travel industry, corporate business leaders and the British media.
Located airside at Terminal 4, the lounge is Qatar Airways' first dedicated facility for premium passengers outside its Doha hub, where the carrier operates the Premium Terminal.
Qatar Airways' CEO Akbar Al-Baker officially opened the lounge.
The guests were given a tour of the facility.
The event marked the start of another busy year for the carrier, with the launch of new routes, as well as additional capacity on the London Heathrow-Doha route, being stepped up from four to five flights a day, effective March 25.
The lounge reinforces the importance of the UK as one of the airline's busiest routes.
Guests at the opening discovered a lounge designed to resemble a boutique hotel or private member's club rather than a conventional airport facility for an airline.
They experienced the ultimate in luxury and Five-Star service, which reflects the airline's drive to excel in all areas of operations.
Qatar Airways recruited lounge staff from five-star hotels and restaurants to work in the theater-style Global Brasserie kitchen, innovative Delicatessen, and an elegant Signature bar that are key features of the new Heathrow lounge which can accommodate over 90 passengers.
The lounge also includes private shower facilities, with heated floors and mirrors, hotel-style towels and luxury branded toiletries and amenities.
Business and leisure travelers can stay connected with free Wi-Fi throughout the lounge, discreet power sockets at every seat and a business center that includes PCs and printers.
Following a landmark year in 2011, which saw Qatar Airways introduce 15 new destinations to its network and win the coveted Skytrax Airline of the Year Award, the airline's new Heathrow lounge is set to become the benchmark for international airport lounges.
© Arab News 2012
