With Hong Kong well and truly back on the Qantas map, the airline announced today it had reopened its premium lounge at the airport. This is the latest step in Qantas’ multi-million dollar program to enhance and relaunch lounges across the network.

Qantas has officially reopened its Hong Kong International Lounge, which the airline said is one of the most popular lounges in its network. The lounge opened in 2014 but has been closed during the pandemic, time Qantas used to upgrade and refresh it before this week’s reopening.

The Qantas A380 has returned to Hong Kong

This is welcome news for Qantas passengers on the daily Sydney (SYD) to Hong Kong flight, which is currently operated using a mix of Airbus A380 and A330 aircraft. It is also nicely timed for the June resumption of flights between Melbourne and Hong Kong, which will start with three times weekly and increase to four times weekly from mid-July.

Yesterday’s flight from Sydney, QF127, operated by an Airbus A380, registration VH-OQK and MSN063, departed at 11:49 and landed at Hong Kong International (HKG) at 18:42. It headed back to Sydney at 21:56 and arrived this morning at 08:06 after an 8:11 hour flight. This A380 has been mainly operating the airline’s flagship route QF1 from Sydney to London via Singapore.

Qantas chief customer officer Markus Svensson said customers had always loved the Hong Kong International Lounge and that the airline is excited “to bring it back better than ever.” He added:

“Since we resumed flights to Hong Kong in January, we’ve seen really strong demand. This reopening is part of our investment in customer experience across our network to ensure Qantas customers continue to enjoy the high level of hospitality they have come to enjoy and expect from Qantas.”

A new menu has been created by Qantas’ creative director of food, beverage and service and renowned chef, Neil Perry, based on regional flavors and ingredients. However, what has not changed is the sought-after Yum Cha trolley, with its array of dim sum delights, including the char siu Chinese barbeque pork dish.

The 2,000 square meters (21,500 square feet) lounge features a large bar area which, apart from the expected Australian wines, beers and spirits, serves cocktails designed by Perry. One delight is the Chi Chi, combining dark rum with pineapple, lime and vanilla.

Given that the Hong Kong to Sydney service is an overnight flight, some passengers may prefer to eat in the lounge and catch up on sleep on the way to Sydney. Those lucky enough to be in the lounge can choose to have a meal in the formal dining area or the more relaxed lounge seating area, with Perry inspired dishes on the menu.

The lounge, which seats 290 guests, also has twelve private shower suites and a business zone with plenty of power and data outlets, including high-speed WiFi.

Qantas is spending AU$100 million ($67 million) on its lounge network, which includes lounges at 42 ports in Australia, 12 of which are in regional destinations, and nine overseas. The centerpiece will be a brand new flagship First Lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), timed to coincide with the launch of Project Sunrise nonstop flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

International Business Lounges in Melbourne and Sydney are also being upgraded and expanded, and a new Qantas Club lounge will open at Hobart Airport in Tasmania. Works on lounges are also underway or planned in Auckland, Adelaide, Broome, Rockhampton and Port Headland.

Qantas lounge access is available to Qantas frequent flyers with Gold or above status, passengers traveling in Business Class and First on Qantas operated flights and eligible oneworld and partner airline customers.

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  Qantas

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  QF/QFA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport

  Year Founded:

  1920

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Alan Joyce

  Country:

  Australia