Work is underway on the £600,000 project to create a new, larger lounge at Bristol Airport.
When it opens next spring the Aspire by Servisair lounge will be 50% larger than the existing lounge and offer an improved service for business and leisure passengers with greater levels of comfort in a stylishly-designed environment.
Kitchen facilities mean that the complimentary menu will include hot food as well as snacks and premium-brand drinks. A series of distinct zones will cater for the different requirements of business and leisure passengers, depending on whether they want to do some last minute work before boarding or relax ahead of a holiday flight.
Specially designed side tables will provide charging facilities for laptops, iPads or games consoles and the lounge will include toilet facilities.
The development is part of an overall strategy to enhance facilities for business passengers using Bristol Airport. Recent improvements include an extension to the Premier Car Park, an enhanced Fast Track security product and improvements to the boarding gate used by full-service scheduled airlines.
Airport commercial development manager Kate Ridgers said: “The new lounge will significantly enhance the passenger experience at Bristol Airport, enabling business passengers to make best use of their time in the terminal and giving holidaymakers the opportunity to start their break in style. We are confident it will prove popular when it opens next spring.”
Entry to the lounge will start from £17.49 per adult and £9.99 for children when booked online. Walk-up prices on the day will be £19.95 per adult and £10.95 for children.
Passengers will also be able to use Servisair’s LoungeMiles rewards scheme which entitles customers to one free lounge pass or a £5 gift voucher from retailers such as Boots, John Lewis or M&S, for every five visits made.Meanwhile airline Blue Islands will be significantly increase the capacity on its twice-daily, direct service between Bristol and Jersey.
The airline said the service, launched 18 months ago, had been remarkably successful and had surpassed expectations.
Capacity will increase by 140% in February 2013 when a 48-seat ATR-42 aircraft replaces its 19-seat Jetstream aircraft.
Blue Islands managing director Rob Veron said: “Our Bristol service has been popular for both business and leisure travel thanks to the ideal morning and evening flight times. Since we began operating the route in April 2011, the total market has increased by 35%, with Blue Islands taking 47% of the market share.”
Bristol Airport aviation director Shaun Browne added: “Since its introduction in 2011, the Blue Islands service has proved popular with business and leisure passengers alike. This additional capacity will enable more people to take advantage of the convenient schedule, which makes a day return possible.”
The first flight with the ATR-42 aircraft will be on February 4, 2013.The Jersey flights have onward connections to Guernsey.
