British Airways has officially opened its new $1.8 million lounge at Cape Town International Airport, the first in South Africa to be modelled on its Galleries lounges at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.
Twice the size of the previous facility and able to accommodate 148 customers, the Cape Town lounge opens just a month before the airline increases its winter schedule to the Mother City from seven to 10 weekly services.
There are two bathrooms in the lounge, to allow passengers to freshen up prior to their flight. A quiet area, separated from the rest of the lounge, provides a space in which to relax before boarding.
There is complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the lounge, as well as two desktop positions in the business area. A new feature is an ‘air’ printer, which enables customers to print from anywhere in the lounge without having to physically connect to a printer.
There are enough conventional and USB plugs throughout the lounge for 90% of customers to charge their devices simultaneously.
The food offering includes a choice of two hot dishes, soup, a selection of wraps and filled rolls, a cheese board and snack selection. There is also a range of complimentary drinks from the bar.
The wine area is a new feature. Similar to an upmarket wine bar, it showcases the best of Cape wines, including those served onboard. It includes a dedicated tasting area where local estates will occasionally present tastings.