Emirates invests Rs 200m on premium lounge

Emirates opened its lounge for first class and business class travellers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Katunayake recently. Airline officials said that with this investment, Emirates reiterates its pledge of continued support to Sri Lanka's tourism industry by providing award winning air services. Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa and Emirates and Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Authority officials participated in the opening ceremony of the lounge.

Chairman Airport and Aviation Authority Prasanna Wickramasuriya cuts the cake watched by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Emirates officials.

Emirates Airline president, Tim Clark said that the Rs 200m investment premium lounge was a further value addition to the Airline's offering in Colombo as well as to the facilities at the BIA.

"Emirates is happy to make this investment, which also reflects our optimism about the prospects for growth in Sri Lanka.

The tourism sector in Sri Lanka is booming and reputed international hotel chains were investing in Sri Lanka, while tourism infrastructure is being upgraded. Sri Lanka will attract tourists from affluent segments. Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) traffic is also increasing and the country is attracting investors from many parts of the world," he said.

"These developments are of particular relevance to Emirates, which is one of the most active international carriers serving this country. "

"We look forward to continuing to play a significant role in the growth of Sri Lanka, a country we have served with award winning air services for 26 years," Clark said.

Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates, Mohammrd Mattar said passenger comfort is top priority for Emirates while flying and on the ground and this lounge is an illustration of this commitment.

Designed, equipped and furnished to exact specifications developed according to the Emirates lounges in 28 other major international airports around the world. The 5,778 square foot Emirates lounge at the BIA can accommodate up to 118 passengers in comfort. It is for the exclusive use of the Airline's First Class and Business Class passengers and Gold members of Skywards, Emirates' frequent flyer program.

Emirates has three premium lounges at the Dubai International Airport, its home base and has set up similar lounges at 27 other airports in key cities across its network. Colombo was the fourth destination on the Emirates network, when the airline launched services to Sri Lanka in April 1986. Today, Emirates flies to 123 destinations in 72 countries, linking Colombo. The airline now operates 28 flights a week from Colombo, 14 direct to Dubai, seven via Male to Dubai and daily flights to Singapore. GW