Dublin Airport has opened a new premier lounge for business and first class passengers traveling to eastern destinations.
East Lounge is located beyond the passenger security screening area between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and will cater for passengers traveling with Emirates, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways.
“We are very excited to open this dedicated lounge for business and first class passengers traveling eastward,” said Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison. “East Lounge is an oasis of calm offering customers the space to relax, to dine or to work before boarding their flight. The concept and design of the lounge has a uniquely Irish feel – it is warm and welcoming with fantastic views of the airfield and Dublin mountains.”
The interior design and feel of the East Lounge are underpinned by the concept of east meeting west. The logo for the lounge was inspired by the Ogham alphabet, which was used to write the Irish language in the medieval period, and means the point where east meets west.
“The lounge design and ethos fits in beautifully with our Sense of Place Project, which provides passengers flying to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong and Istanbul with a last opportunity to enjoy Irish art, culture, design, food and beverage at the airport before they depart,” Harrison said.
The base colors chosen for the lounge are warm grays and rich greens from Kilkenny limestone and Connemara marble. The grain in the Irish oak wood tables and panels have angles between 45° and 135°, all pointing to the east.
The furniture was handcrafted in Dublin by a family-owned business, Delaney’s Bespoke Furniture. Every strand of yarn used in the seating fabrics was individually hand-picked, dyed and woven in Ireland. The custom-made wall hanging, cushions and sofa coverings were created by leading textile designers, Frances Duff and Sonia Reynolds, and pay homage to the work of Irish artist Patrick Scott.
The lounge is divided into work, relaxation, bar and dining areas and can accommodate up to 86 guests. As well as premium food and drink facilities, it offers a concierge service, luxury shower rooms, a quiet prayer room, an entertainment area, charging outlets for multiple devices, and unlimited high-speed wi-fi.
Executive chefs from catering company KSG have created a food and beverage menu showcasing the very best of Irish produce, and guests will have a choice of over 150 blends and flavors of tea from Dublin firm Wall & Keogh, as well as four different roasts of barista-style coffee.