BA Refreshes JNB Lounge with New Look and Feel

British Airways has unveiled its latest lounge refurbishment in Johannesburg as part of its $8.3 billion investment for customers. The lounge, based in O.R. Tambo International Airport, has undergone significant refurbishment with the new and improved space being converted into one large lounge with a dedicated boutique dining area for First customers. Guests get a warm welcome and a place to relax or work prior to their departure from Johannesburg to points onward.

The carefully curated lounge follows a new design concept for the airline, which debuted in 2018, and features the very best of British and South African design, delivering a luxurious and contemporary look and feel.

The nearly 10,000-squar-foot lounge can host up to 247 customers and offers a modern lobby bar area for socializing, a brasserie dining area and office space with ample work stations with power outlets. A peaceful, separate seating area with a mix of elegant armchairs and banquette seating is available for those who wish to recharge ahead of their journey with complementary magazines and newspapers.

Zoned areas in the lounge allow guests to choose what area they would like to relax in depending on their mood, with a music system and bespoke playlist. Lighting has been carefully planned by zone and dimmable to reflect the time of day.

The new lobby bar, illuminated by brand new feature lighting, is stocked with a display of spirits, beers and soft drinks together with a selection of fine wines. New kitchen facilities offer an enhanced dining menu of hot and cold options, including Cape Malay curry, fresh seasonal salads, mezze, local charcuterie and Indezi river cheeses. First Boutique Dining offers a pre-flight a-la-carte menu carefully curated by the in-house chef, complemented by an extensive wine list.

This year, British Airways completed the renovation of its First and Club lounges in New York’s JFK Terminal 7, along with making improvements to the customer experience at check-in. A brand-new, 7,000-square-foot contemporary lounge has also been unveiled in San Francisco, and a lounge in Geneva is also set to open this year as well.

The refurbished Johannesburg lounge comes as the airline is investing considerable sums over five years, and includes the installation of quality Wi-Fi and power in every aircraft seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. This year the airline has also introduced its Club Suite, a new business class seat with direct aisle access.