(Posted 23rd February 2024)
The oneworld® alliance has launched its first fully branded European lounge in Amsterdam at Schiphol International Airport, providing a sophisticated new space for travellers to unwind and rejuvenate before embarking on their journeys.
The new oneworld lounge – opening shortly after the world’s leading airline alliance unveiled its first premium lounge at Incheon International Airport, Seoul in January – has redefined the premium travel experience.
In collaboration with ASPIRE, the lounge subsidiary of global aviation ground services provider Swissport, oneworld has opened this second branded lounge during the alliance’s landmark 25th anniversary year.
Located in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s non-Schengen departure area, the luxury 473 square-metre lounge offers a wide choice of stylish seating in a spacious, bright, contemporary setting where customers can relax, refuel and re-energise before their flight.
oneworld’s new lounge design includes a subtle nod to Amsterdam with tailor-made lighting pieces inspired by the spherical lights on many of the city’s iconic arched canal bridges, which is also reflected in the shape of the entrance portal itself.
The city’s birds were also a source of playful inspiration for designers with individual bird silhouettes perching over the lounge bar, with one even seen to be blowing bubble gum.
oneworld’s new lounge is conveniently located no more than 10 minutes away from the alliance member airlines’ departure gates.
Eight oneworld member airlines – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc and Royal Jordanian – operate non-stop flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Based in the non-Schengen area, the oneworld lounge will be open to all eligible oneworld customers and will be the exclusive lounge for all those departing on international flights outside of the Schengen area. Collectively, oneworld member airlines operate more than 200 weekly flights to Amsterdam connecting the Netherlands’ capital to more than 900 destinations worldwide through the oneworld member network.
Julio Rodriguez, International Airlines Group (IAG) Chief Commercial Strategy Officer, said: “As the alliance celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it’s great to see that customers from all member airlines will benefit from access to oneworld’s first branded lounge experience in Europe. With oneworld carriers jointly operating more than 200 flights a week, the launch of the new lounge will further strengthen the presence of the alliance at Schiphol, and benefit IAG customers flying to and through this key market in Europe.”
Neil Chernoff, British Airways Director of Networks and Alliances, also commented: “As a founding member of oneworld 25 years ago, British Airways is proud to support the opening of the alliance’s first fully-branded European lounge. Amsterdam is hugely popular with our customers as we operate up to 116 flights per week from London, together with our subsidiary airlines. Being part of the oneworld alliance gives our customers access to around 900 destinations around the globe, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of its continued success.”
Smail Boudjennah, Regional Manager for Western Europe at Qatar Airways, said: “ This is an exciting and ground-breaking moment indeed for the oneworld alliance airlines, and Qatar Airways is very proud to take part in welcoming Europe’s first oneworld branded lounge here in Amsterdam. We are in good company alongside the world’s leading airlines as this new lounge illustrates how oneworld and its members continue to collectively provide an unparalleled experience to customers.”
Gerhard Girkinger, oneworld Vice President, Customer Experience, Delivery and Membership, said: “The launch of our first oneworld branded lounge in Europe – following on from our recent lounge opening at Incheon International Airport in Seoul – is a proud moment for everyone connected with the world’s leading airline alliance. It’s also fantastic for our customers who enjoy premium benefits and luxury air travel when flying with oneworld member airlines. The new lounge at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, opened as we celebrate our 25th anniversary, provides a contemporary setting that caters for the diverse needs of oneworld customers. We have created a lounge that upholds our vision to make travel bright. Customers can expect a modern setting that blends refined fixtures and fittings with digital technologies and warm, ergonomic seating areas, offering a memorable travel experience.”
David Collyer, Swissport International AG Global Vice President Executive Lounges, said: “After partnering with the oneworld alliance on their fully branded lounge at Incheon, we are delighted to be working together again on oneworld’s first lounge in Europe, which looks fantastic. Our hospitality products are carefully developed to meet the unique and evolving needs of our airline, alliance and airport partners. Swissport and our ASPIRE team have applied the same standard of excellence to the oneworld lounge in Amsterdam.”
The new lounge is open daily between 5:30am and 10:00pm*, for eligible oneworld Emerald and Sapphire customers departing from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol outside of the Schengen area on oneworld flights, as well as First and Business Class customers travelling with oneworld member airlines.
Eye for design: behind the new lounge’s aesthetic
Jochem Straatman, D/DOCK Art Director, commented: “The Amsterdam lounge is a futuristic, vibrant setting that blends open spaces to encourage relaxation, especially as the Dutch skies are omnipresent through the immense windows, which are a fantastic feature of this lounge. With a Travel Bright twist, guests can also experience a mesmerising luminous horizon, theatrically revealed by lifted curtains.
“We have delivered a contemporary, premium lounge experience with typologies, fittings and furnishings that pay homage to life in the Netherlands. The lounge experience makes travel simple, relaxing and enjoyable. While this and the Incheon lounge have their own distinct identity, both share the same unique oneworld look and feel, creating a sense of familiarity across our lounges.”
Customers can easily navigate their way through the lounge, to find a space to suit their mood, and discover its eye-catching signature ‘mood light’, changing its colour depending on the time of day.
Careful attention to detail, and the use of unexpected and bespoke materials throughout the new lounge – including a moss wall – creates a new and exciting space in which oneworld customers can enjoy a new interpretation of luxury, with a futuristic twist.
Airline alliance members can continue to access more than 600 airport lounges around the world via their oneworld Priority Tier Benefits.
* Subject to change – please check oneworld.com for details and updated information.
