Germany's A380 city again demonstrates size matters

Officially inaugurated yesterday by investment-driven Emirates Airline, the lounge is a sprawling 900 square metres and follows in the slipstream of the carrier's other new European lounges in Manchester and Dusseldorf.

Mohammed Mattar, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Airport Services, in Hamburg for the official opening, said:

"Germany is a very important market for us and we are pleased to now offer our guests a "Home from Home" feeling at all our four Germany gateways. At Emirates, we are constantly investing in the comfort and loyalty of our passengers and this is another superb example."

The 25th Emirates Lounge, affording views of apron activity at Hamburg airport, can be enjoyed by Emirates' First and Business Class passengers, along with Gold Skywards members.

In the main area, passengers can sink into leather armchairs, watch the latest TV news, or flick through international newspapers and magazines.

In the restaurant, passengers will find an extensive menu of complimentary hot and cold gourmet dishes, with a refreshing choice of drinks. Shower cubicles are on hand if travellers wish to freshen up before take off. Should they be connecting in Dubai to a route served by an A380, the showers, are of course, on board.

Travellers using the lounge will have full access to a business centre, with computer and laptop workstations, each with complimentary broadband and wireless LAN access.

The award winning airline has pumped in excess of a quarter of a billion dirhams into customer-spoiling lounges across its network, which now stretches to 101 destinations in 62 countries. Services to Durban and Luanda started last month.

Michael Eggenschwiler, CEO, Hamburg Airport, said, "For many years, Emirates has been a familiar sight at our airport. We are pleased about the ongoing success at our Hamburg gateway. Thanks to the daily Emirates services, we could expand our long-distance flights and offer more attractive destinations and flight connections. The new lounge is a clear commitment to Hamburg Airport and its catchment area. It is the largest Emirates lounge in Germany and highlights the unlimited service philosophy, as well as the importance of Hamburg within the global route network."

In addition to Hamburg, the airline offers dedicated lounges in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Auckland, Bangkok, Dubai, Mumbai, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester, Munich, New York JFK, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Johannesburg, Singapore, Beijing and Zurich. More lounges are due to open in 2010 including one at Birmingham International Airport.

The airline's renowned support on the ground also includes complimentary chauffeur-drive services, exclusive First and Business Class check-in desks and priority baggage handling.