Emirates opens first airport lounge in US

Emirates has opened its first airport lounge in the United States’ West Coast at the San Francisco International Airport, or SFO. The new lounge represents a $4 million investment in the Bay Area. The San Francisco International Airport lounge has been designed with the same attention to detail as Emirates’ lounges throughout the world, including the airline’s award-winning facility at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, named one of the 2011 Top Airport Lounges in North America by Frommers. The opening was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Mohammed Mattar, divisional senior vice-president of airport services; Jim Baxter, Emirates’ vice-president of USA, Central America and Caribbean; and Herman Wai, San Francisco International Airport services manager. “Emirates’ customers have come to rely on our superior service both in the air and on the ground,” said Mattar. “We are proud to bring our award winning lounge product and our trademark hospitality and service to San Francisco with the opening of the Emirates Lounge at the San Francisco International Airport.” “With complimentary chauffeur drive service to and from the airport for first and business class travellers, customers in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and San Francisco can now look forward to a seamless and stress-free experience from the start to the finish of their journey,” added Mattar. The 9,502sqft space features the largest dining area of all San Francisco International Airport’s lounges; it is also the only lounge with a dedicated prayer room. Signature features include Italian marble floors, gold Rolex clocks and rich timber joinery. It features two-levels, purpose-built elevators, an internal staircase that connects the reception entrance on level three with the lounge below, and direct access to the boarding bridge. Facilities and amenities also include two 60-inch LED TVs, 56 leather armchairs, shower facilities and a business centre. Lounge guests enjoy an a la carte service of complimentary hot and cold gourmet dishes. Formal and informal seating options in the dining area are accompanied by a full bar service. The Emirates Lounge at the San Francisco International Airport is configured to seat up to 130 First and business class passengers, and Skywards Gold members travelling from San Francisco to Dubai. It is open from noon to 4:00pm daily. “We will continue to expand our relationship with San Francisco,” said Baxter. Emirates is the only airline offering non-stop service between San Francisco International Airport and Dubai International Airport. Daily service on the ultra-modern Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft generates an estimated $54 million in economic benefit to the Bay Area economy per year. —