SAA premium lounge opens in Lagos
14 December 2010
The new lounge in Nigeria facilitates SAA’s aggressive expansion into Africa, as well as providing improved and upmarket facilities and service for its large number customers on the continent and in particular, Nigeria. Save
“There is a high demand for premium travel in Nigeria and SAA is an airline of choice for many travellers in the West African country.
In recognition of the support we receive from Nigerians and the high expectations they expect and deserve of us, SAA is offering customers an exclusive product they will be proud of and will appreciate,” says Theunis Potgieter, SAA General Manager Commercial.
In recent years SAA has opened two other premium lounges on the continent in Harare, Zimbabwe and Lusaka, Zambia. The airline is exploring the feasibility of more lounges in African destinations.
Also taken into consideration in deciding to build a lounge in Lagos was the growing trade and cultural links between South Africa and Nigeria. This contributes significantly towards the increased traffic on the route between Johannesburg and Lagos.
The new Lagos lounge is available to Business Class passengers, Voyager Lifetime Platinum and Platinum members.
The lounge design is in line with SAA’s other new and renovated airport lounges in South Africa and is inspired by Africa where SAA is recognised as an award winning airline. At the same time, the finishing is ultra-modern, styled exclusively for today’s discerning traveller. “It is a look and feel our customers will identify with and feel at home in,” says Potgieter.
During construction of the lounge specific attention was paid to each and every detail, including the material to be used throughout. This was to ensure that the end product was durable and sustainable but at the same time, practical, providing a relaxing and comfortable space for customers to enjoy before their flight.
On entering the lounge, customers will be greeted by expansive wall-to-wall windows offering a spectacular view of the airport runway.
Facilities available to customers in the lounge include a bar service, self-service food and beverage area, showers, smokers lounge and a view onto the runway.
SAA operates daily between Johannesburg and Lagos and has replaced the Boeing 747s that used to operate this route with Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
The A340s have a two class configuration, for Premium class and Economy class. Premium class on these aircraft has been reconfigured in business class with lie flat seats. The seats are very similar to the Business Class seats on the current A340s and seat fabrics are in warm brown colours. The configuration of the aircraft is a total of 254 seats, with 36 Business Class seats at 73” pitch and 218 Economy Class seats at 31/32” pitch.
Customers will receive the current meal offering as served on other long haul aircraft.
In flight entertainment offered onboard is audio-video-on-demand in Business Class (Panasonic 3000 system) with the same offer of movies and programming as currently on board the A340s. In Economy Class, the in flight entertainment is in the form of overhead television screens.
