Centerlines - March 2009 - (Page 24) REVENUE ARENA COMMON-USE LOUNGES A B Y J ODI R I C H A R D S Airports See Revenue Opportunity s airlines continue to cut costs, airports are left to fill in the void, particularly when it comes to customer service. However, while offering amenities to travelers, these extras need to make financial sense. Some airports have found that common-use passenger lounges are one way to meet customer demand and, maybe, translate into revenue. One of the newest common-use lounges opened on Nov. 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority made the investment in the Terminal 1 lounge and Plaza Premium Lounge Unlimited operates the lounge. The management company has agreements with airlines which do not have their own dedicated lounges for first-class and business-class passengers to utilize the area, as well as walk-in passengers at $35 per day. Access for certain club members such as Priority Pass, a lounge company whose members have access to more than 600 clubs worldwide, has also been negotiated, said Anne Poroniuk, senior manager of terminal properties. Capacity of the post-security lounge is 75 persons. Poroniuk says roughly 50 travelers use the lounge daily. The Toronto lounge is operating under a three-year lease and is staffed 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. Poroniuk said the airport built the lounge as a customer service rather than a revenue generator. Miami International For more than two decades, Miami International Airport has been operating passenger lounges for its international carriers. The airport is responsible for capital investment and daily operating costs of two lounges, which are operated under a management agreement with International Airport Management, Inc. With Miami’s operating environment – more than 30 international airlines – it is not feasible for every single airline to provide a club experience, said Ray Diaz, Communication, Hospitality and Transportation Services Manager. This makes it an ideal opportunity for the airport to take on this service. Currently, Miami has two clubs: a 10,000-square-foot post-security, departure-level club; and, a temporary 6,420-square-foot, pre-security, 24 CENTERLINES | MARCH 2009
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.