FIVE new UK airport lounges are opening in the next few weeks

Opening new airport lounges is a long and painful process. Whilst the lounge operators are keen to roll them out as quickly as they can – and the demand is certainly there – it isn’t easy for airports to find spaces, especially when you consider the requirement for utilities and toilets.

Even when a space can be found, constructing anything airside – where every bit of equipment needs to be screened and checked in/out daily – takes far longer and costs more money than usual.

It’s therefore a minor miracle that we have five new UK (including Channel Islands!) airport lounges almost ready to roll, even if two are conversions.

Let’s take a look at what is on the way over the summer.

EDIT: I have updated the opening dates for No1 Lounge Jersey and My Lounge Heathrow T3 based on the latest information received from No1 Lounges.

Airport: Edinburgh

Operator: Escape

Opening date: 27th June

The first opening on our list is due on Friday, when Manchester Airports Group opens an outpost of its ‘Escape’ brand by Gate 4.

This is the space which used to be occupied by the original Aspire lounge. Aspire retains its other lounge by Gate 16.

The image above looks smart and a noticeable change from, say, the Escape lounge at London Stansted. There isn’t any launch event planned for the media so it will be a while before we get to see it.

The lounge website is here.

Airport: London Heathrow Terminal 3

Operator: My Lounge

Opening date: 17th July (online booking only available from 31st August)

The Club Aspire space in Heathrow Terminal 3 is being turned into a Scandi-inspired My Lounge. (The Club Aspire brand is being retired completely, which means that something will happen to the Terminal 5 space at some point.) It is situated between the entrances to the Cathay and Emirates lounges.

My Lounge is generally a bit more laid back – it’s the Moxy of airport lounges. The aim is to provide a greater differentiation between My Lounge, No1 Lounge and the brand new Clubrooms lounge in Terminal 3, all of which have the same owner.

The lounge is due to open on 17th July, based on a chat with No1 this week, but it is only accepting cash bookings via the website from 31st August.

You can book and find out more on this page of the No1 website.

Airport: Jersey

Operator: No1 Lounge

Opening date: 18th July (online booking only available from 1st August)

This is a brand new space which will provide competition for the existing, dated, Executive Lounge.

At 460 sq m this will be a big lounge for a relatively small airport, with capacity for almost 150 guests. Speaking to the No1 team at our summer party last week, they are enthusiastic about the space they have to work with, which is on the upper level and apparently filled with light. Image above.

Bookings being taken from 1st August via this page although No1 has told us that it hopes to be open on 18th July.

Airport: Bristol

Operator: Escape

Opening date: 28th July

The next opening is expected to be at Bristol. Manchester Airports Group, which now operates the lounge, is opening a brand new space on the mezzanine floor adjacent to the Cabin Bar.

It promises ‘floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out on to the Eastern apron’. You can find out more on this page of the airport website here.  Image above.

Airport: Liverpool John Lennon

Operator: Aspire

Opening date: TBC but ‘Summer’

This isn’t an extension of the previous lounge, but a brand new space which will seat over 200 people. This is TRIPLE the capacity of the previous lounge.

It will be split into two sections – a standard Aspire lounge and a more upmarket ‘Luxe by Aspire’ lounge. Image above.

All in all, it’s going to be a busy period for the UK airport lounge sector. Whilst Heathrow and Edinburgh are refits in existing spaces, Liverpool and Bristol see the current lounges moved and expanded whilst Jersey is brand new. Independent lounge capacity continues to increase, which is good news.