Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014" - maybe never!]

[hydrabyss]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

I always find it interesting arriving with DJ into "International Arrivals". I mean, I know it is overseas and all...

I have been joking for awhile to my partner that we were going overseas for our trip to Hobart.Arrived today in Hobart and was slightly amused to see the International Arrivals sign then the customs prohibited food signs inside with federal police standing around.

 

[Saab34]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Where does Tiger pax enter? DJ side?

 

[Tuddy]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Where does Tiger pax enter? DJ side?

Yes DJ side

 

[smatho10]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Soooooooooooo.....

This thread started a year ago... Any news on when, where etc?? Cause no news is no news...

 

[Tuddy]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

I'd take it being a HBA local you might have more news on progress at your local airport than some of us from the mainland...seen any construction going on lately? I'm predicting a late-2013 opening. Same with CNS.

 

[Tuddy]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Worth pointing out that HBA isn't mentioned as a Lounge opening this year in the Results posted today...? Whilst CNS is mentioned. Hmm...

 

[markis10]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Worth pointing out that HBA isn't mentioned as a Lounge opening this year in the Results posted today...? Whilst CNS is mentioned. Hmm...

Not surprising, building a lounge takes time, whereas CNS already pretty much has one waiting to go, just needs to be branded, dont forget DRW has been waiting a while.

 

[Tuddy]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Not surprising, building a lounge takes time, whereas CNS already pretty much has one waiting to go, just needs to be branded, dont forget DRW has been waiting a while.

At least we have some idea of when it's opening in DRW (mid-2014) as a result of more major developments. Haven't seen any indicators in HBA of recent...

 

[smatho10]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Ausbt twitter feed has mentioned mid-2014 from JB. Disappointing...

 

[vicsta]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

 

[Noob]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Ausbt twitter feed has mentioned mid-2014 from JB. Disappointing...

The AusBT article made it sound as if the delay is due to the airport operator/current facilities available. If there was a vacant space available it would be a much different project, while this probably means extensions or major remodeling of the structure = lots of planning.

 

[rsellens]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

I had a look at the most recent (2009) strategic plan for Hobart Airport and there does not appear to be any available space there at the moment for another lounge. Am flying HBA-CNS on Sunday so will try to remember to ask ground staff if they know anything.

 

[smatho10]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [Now "Mid 2014"]

Just flicked through the HIAPL master plan.. All 147 pages of it.. Yeah no mention of existing space to be developed..

the only two areas that could be developed: the info desk just after arrivals or the Saffire lounge. I've been inside that space - not that big at all.. 20pax max..

 

[RooFlyer]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

Airport majority owner MacBank not interested in capex spend at the moment (and probably not for a while), limiting options for any new lounge.

Where to squeeze in? Anywhere where DJ is willing to pay more per sq m than the current occupant to Macbank should see them installed PDQ.

 

[vicsta]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

Asked about this at the checkin yesterday - they told me that the lounge is going to be in the vicinity of the Qantas Arrivals part of the airport (although if i remember correctly, Qantas Club is in that area!). According to them, the delay is Hobart Airport's fault rather than Virgin's fault.

Apparently a Virgin lounge can't be in the Virgin/Tiger arrivals / Sapphire lounge / international part of the airport because it's still needed for the "international" flights which occasionally still operate from Hobart down to Antarctica

 

[Tuddy]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

Asked about this at the checkin yesterday - they told me that the lounge is going to be in the vicinity of the Qantas Arrivals part of the airport (although if i remember correctly, Qantas Club is in that area!). According to them, the delay is Hobart Airport's fault rather than Virgin's fault.

Apparently a Virgin lounge can't be in the Virgin/Tiger arrivals / Sapphire lounge / international part of the airport because it's still needed for the "international" flights which occasionally still operate from Hobart down to Antarctica

Could we see an OOL-esque extension with the VA Lounge going above​ the QP?

 

[rsellens]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

There is an administration area between the QP and departures that may be able to be utilised. The advantage of that would be that you could have direct access access to departures area. At present when you leave the QP you still have to go through security screening.

 

[RooFlyer]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

There is an administration area between the QP and departures that may be able to be utilised. The advantage of that would be that you could have direct access access to departures area. At present when you leave the QP you still have to go through security screening.

Not for the past 6 months or more. You now enter & leave the QP from the main departure lounge - there's been a corridor created along the bottom of the green area in your diagram.

Best spot for the Virgin lounge would be at the left hand side of the orange area (next to the VA gates), but that's occupied by a shop at the moment and maybe a bit small.

Whole of HBA is a bit ramshackle at the moment. It was last upgraded before Virgin came on the scene and then was instantly too small again. Current arrangement means a lot of uncovered walking on the tarmac - especially for Virgin arrivals. But as I mentioned above, majority equity owner is Macquarie Bank, and they won't part with the $ necessary for the upgarde and even if they did, pax would be bled white by added MacBank charges to the airlines.

Best solution absent a total re-build would be a Townsville - type departure gallery tacked on the front of the current front of the departures hall. Up escalators then left or right to a couple of air bridges. Would get more seating areas as well.

 

[rsellens]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

Shows how long it has been since QF lost my domestic business.

A total rebuild would be good - as long as they don't do a Cairns!

 

[rsellens]

re: Virgin Lounge to open in Hobart! [No longer "Mid 2014"]

From yesterdays local newspaper.

With a record number of passengers last year Hobart Airport administration has announced plans to rejuvenate the airport with including a 75 seat Virgin Business Lounge.

Unfortunately no mention of when though. Hopefully not too long. They have just spent a total of $30 million resurfacing the runway and taxiways.