Qantas announces new international flights from Auckland, opening lounge after major overhaul

Qantas says the overhauled lounge has capacity for more than 370 customers across dedicated zones for dining, relaxing and working. Photo / John Weekes

Qantas will start year-round services from Auckland to Samoa and the Gold Coast from June next year.

The airline announced the new routes today to coincide with the imminent opening of its revamped Auckland international lounge.

The Auckland to Gold Coast route will operate three times a week from June 16, with business class available.

Cam Wallace, Qantas International & Freight CEO, at the lounge preview. Photo / John Weekes

Qantas said the flights from Auckland to Apia would be its first-ever international routes from New Zealand to the Pacific Islands.

The new route will mark the first Qantas international services from the Gold Coast in nearly five years.

Meanwhile, the new Auckland lounge is complete and will officially open next week.

It is 60% bigger than its predecessor and designed to cater especially for transit passengers and New York travellers.

It was designed in collaboration with Sydney-based Caon Design Office and Akin Atelier, and the New Zealand studio of Architectus.

Some of Architectus’ recent work included Auckland’s SeaLink Wynyard Ferry Terminal and Catalina Bay Apartments in Hobsonville Point.

In the refurbished Qantas lounge, 70% of seats had charging points.

The lounge has specialised zones for work, relaxing and dining.

A band entertaining guests at the lounge preview event. Photo / John Weekes

It also has 15 shower suites for customers. Each suite has a toilet, sink and shower, and a numbered door.

There is a special Joey Club room for children.

The Auckland lounge was closed for the rebuild in April.

Platinum One and Platinum Frequent Flyers will have access to a new dedicated dining area featuring seasonal menus.

Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace said Auckland was one of the airline’s most important international hubs.

“It shows a significant investment and shows the confidence and the ambition and the growth that we expect in New Zealand for the years to come,” Wallace said today.

During the rebuild, Qantas passengers were accommodated at the nearby Emirates lounge.

Wallace said Auckland was “an emerging eastern hub for the airline”.

Auckland Airport chief executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the airport aimed to provide a “modern, intutitive and easy-to-navigate” experience.

She said the lounge complemented that ethos.

David Caon of Caon Design said his company had also worked on lounges in Singapore and Sydney.

He said the Auckland lounge had long-haul travellers in mind.

He pointed to a landscape painting of Rangitoto, Devonport and the Waitematā.

“It’s a way for us to bring the outside in,” he said, referring to transit passengers who would not leave the airport.

Caon said virtually all materials in the new lounge were from New Zealand and Australia.

He said many tradies and artisans worked on the lounge rebuild with project managers WT Partnerships.

The lounge featured a “porthole wall” inspired by aircraft windows and similar to a design at Hong Kong.

The porthole wall at the new Qantas lounge. Photo / John Weekes

Carrara marble tabletops and American oak were also prominent throughout.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston welcomed the new routes.

“I hope Queenslanders make the most of this opportunity and experience everything New Zealand has to offer,” she said.

Both new routes will be on Boeing 737 aircraft.

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