CNS Reef Lounge closing

[Mattg]

The Reef Lounge in Cairns is apparently closing on 1 August. The lounge is a Prioirity Pass option and currently used by CX, which is also pulling out of CNS from October.

[Updated] Menzies Aviation to take over Reef Lounge Cairns - Fly Stay Points

In late news, Cairns Airport has announced that Menzies Aviation will take over running the Reef Lounge as from 1 August, 2019.

www.flystaypoints.com.au

 

[Natalie Z]

Hmm I'm not surprised. I don't think many people will really norice it gone.

CNS International is quite a decent sized terminal though, surely a decent size lounge is on the horizons?

 

[serfty]

The space used to be two lounges - Qantas First and Qantas Business.

Flew on a B742 operated CNS-xDRW-DPS flight in the 90's.

 

[sudoer]

surely a decent size lounge is on the horizons?

Who would it be operated by though?

Elite pax on QF/JQ flights are already able to use the domestic QF club if they can be bothered walking over to the domestic terminal.

QF/JQ aside, there are only a couple of international routes ex CNS - mostly on narrowbodies:

SilkAir to SIN - 737 once daily, varies between 10:45am and 6:15pm departure
Hainan to SZX - 332 thrice weekly at 10:50am
Air NZ to AKL - A32x five weekly alternating between 11:50am and 1:50pm departure

The 4x weekly CX flight to HKG is ceasing, and the 3x weekly MU seasonal flight to PVG hasn't yet been announced for this summer.

Unless Cairns picks up some new international routes from full service airlines, I can't see it being financially viable to run a lounge. The fact there is only one full service F&B venue and a Hudsons coffee is telling in itself.

I think the best possible outcome would be for Priority Pass to negotiate a credit with the Crafty Cassowary.

 

[im.daniel]

I wonder if CX will negotiate something for their status pax in between August 1 to when the route gets cancelled ...

 

[takenbyaliens]

I hope so...due to go through there 24 Aug

 

[jastel]

In the paper today it says Menzies Aviation will be taking over the lounge from tomorrow.
A seamless transition it says so I guess the same rules as now.
It does add a pay per use option will be implemented soon.

 

[im.daniel]

Just flew in on CX147.

Reef Lounge has been taken over by Menzies, and still operating. CX J and status pax today still had access to lounge on departure/transit from/in CNS. Other airlines (MI, PX, HU) also still sending J and status pax to the Reef lounge.

 

[AIRwin]

Just flew in on CX147.

You must have departed HKG last night? I was flying on QF98 around the same time...