Emirates Unveils Latest A380 Onboard Lounge at ITB Berlin

Dubai-based Emirates has officially unveiled its latest iteration of the Airbus A380’s signature onboard lounge. The new lounge, announced back in February 2017, was unveiled at the Emirates stand at ITB (Internationale Tourismus-Borse) in Berlin on Wednesday.

The new lounge, part of a multi-million dollar cabin upgrade program which will see cabin enhancements for both Boeing 777 and A380 fleets, will be fitted onboard all new A380 aircraft, with the first due to be put into service in July 2017. There are currently no plans to refurbish the A380 aircraft currently operating in its fleet.

An up-close look at the redesigned onboard bar (Photo: Emirates)

While the lounge retains the signature horseshoe-shaped bar, significant upgrades have been made to the seating arrangements. Eight seats accompanied by tables and window views have replaced the previous curved seating layout while still allowing space for up to eighteen guests to stand and enjoy the bar’s offerings.

The carrier has taken inspiration from private yacht cabins, using champagne color schemes, wood trimmings, and ambient mood lighting to create what the airline calls an “airier look and feel.” Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline hopes that the new design will make the lounge more inviting.

The onboard lounge was first introduced in 2008, and has proven a hit with business and first class customers. Providing an open environment for customers to stretch their legs, sample gourmet food offerings or try out one of the many cocktails on offer.

The new lounge will also introduce soundproof partition curtains, to separate it from the first and business class cabins and will be fitted with surround sound and a 55-inch LCD screen allowing customers to relax and enjoy the live entertainment or news updates.

The airline currently operates 93 A380 Aircraft to over 40 destinations across 5 continents. It currently has another 49 aircraft on order with the first due to be delivered and entered into service with the new revamped bar in July 2017.

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Joshua Drabble

Josh is a long-term aviation enthusiast and aspiring commercial airline pilot. From a young age, he has immersed himself in all things aviation. From plane spotting at local airports and airfield to racking up frequent flier miles on trips abroad, Josh is a huge AvGeek at heart. He graduated from university in September 2017 with a first class Bachelor of Science degree in Air transport. He completed his pilot training, gaining his Frozen ATPL in November 2017 upon completion of his Multi-Engine Instrument rating and Multi-crew/Jet orientation course. He currently has around 230 hours of flying experience in various aircraft. He hopes to join an airline as a first officer by the end of 2017.

He frequently flies on one of his favorite airlines, British Airways, and is an avid Avios collector and British Airways Executive Club member.
In his spare time, while not studying, flying or immersing himself in aviation he enjoys spending his time volunteering in a variety of roles and running a blog to help other aspiring pilots pursue their dream.

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