Enhances premium travel experience, delivers synergies for SkyTeam members in Istanbul
ISTANBUL, 2013-07-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, today opened its new lounge at Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport. The lounge is available to Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers flying from the airport on any of the alliance’s 10 airlines that serve Istanbul. SkyTeam anticipates more than 70,000 visits to the lounge each year.
SkyTeam’s Istanbul lounge is a key milestone in the alliance’s airport-focused initiative, SkyPort. Developed to realize synergies for SkyTeam members by sharing facilities at airports worldwide, SkyPort also improves the travel experience for passengers. As part of this initiative, SkyTeam plans to open two more lounges: in Sydney by the end of 2013 and in Beijing in 2014. Other SkyPort projects include the co-location of check-in and airport ticket office facilities at a growing number of airports globally.
The new lounge embodies the alliance’s spirit of ‘caring more about you’. The 350 square meter space seats up to 90 passengers and offers high-end hospitality with amenities including: a business center, complete with printing facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi; a relaxation zone with oxygen bar and massage chairs; a bar and buffet offering a selection of different cuisines; more than 70 electric power sockets for customer use; and a reading area.
In keeping with SkyTeam’s flagship venue at London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4, the Istanbul lounge features a modern design with rounded shapes throughout, such as SkyTeam’s signature bronze pendant lighting and sleek, curved furnishings. Large picture windows on two of the four walls allow for natural light, while a third ‘living wall’ of different plant species creates a vertical jungle and adds a touch of nature. To maintain a tranquil ambience and enable customers to work or just unwind, television is available in a separate viewing room.
“We are working to fast-track initiatives that augment the benefits we offer and this new lounge delivers a superior airport experience for customers, while realizing synergies for our members serving Istanbul,” said Michael Wisbrun, SkyTeam’s managing director. “Turkey is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and, with direct links to Istanbul offered by SkyTeam airlines globally, the investment in the new lounge will strengthen our brand in this dynamic market.”
SkyTeam airlines serving Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport are: Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, KLM, Middle East Airlines (MEA), Tarom and Saudia.
For downloadable images of SkyTeam’s new lounge in Istanbul, click here.
For more information:
SkyTeam
Corporate Communications
E: media@skyteam.com
About SkyTeam
SkyTeam is a global airline alliance providing customers from member airlines access to an extensive global network with more destinations, more frequencies and more connectivity. Passengers can earn and redeem Frequent Flyer Miles throughout the SkyTeam network. SkyTeam member airlines offer customers access to 530 lounges worldwide. The 19 members are: Aeroflot, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. SkyTeam offers its 569 million annual customers almost 15,000 daily flights to 1,024 destinations in 178 countries.
www.skyteam.com / www.facebook.com/skyteam / www.youtube.com/user/skyteam