On the day the Victoria-New South Wales border has re-opened to travellers, Virgin Australia has lifted the curtain on its refurbished Melbourne Lounge and unveiled a new and fresh Lounge menu, as the airline looks to the future.
First closed in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, the new-look Lounge takes on a more contemporary and relaxed look and feel within the lounge’s existing structure and layout. 500 guests can be seated in the venue in line with COVID-19 capacity requirements, making it the largest in the airline’s network of 10 lounges.
In keeping with the Virgin Australia signature “flair”, fun new signage adorns the walls, entry and exit points. Plus, there’s brand new bathrooms and shower facilities, ambient lighting, bright greenery and a selection of modern and refreshed furniture, forming a more relaxed and modern space for frequent flyers to enjoy when they travel.
Virgin Australia has been thoughtful in its layout of the Lounge with spaces to sit back, relax and unwind, enjoy a delicious meal, connect with others or work on the fly – there’s something for everyone. Signature features of the Lounge will also return, including a coffee and wine bar offering an exciting range of beverages, including barista-made coffee, and Australian wines, craft beers and ciders. There’s also a delicious new menu offering all day dining freshly prepared on site.
The Melbourne Lounge re-opening completes Virgin Australia’s national Lounge network, with the airline’s other lounges in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth. Virgin Australia has also committed to re-opening its premium lounges (formerly The Club) in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane by 31 March 2022.
- Expansive food and beverage offering: All day-dining and barista service;
- Brand- new bathroom facilities: Bathroom and shower facilities* offering a place to freshen up prior to travel.
- A selection of new and refreshed furniture: including couches, single seats, high bars and work benches
- The “Wake Up” Coffee Bar: A central café with professional baristas serving tea, coffee and other hot beverages;
- The “Wind Down” Wine Bar: A central bar offering a premium selection of local beer, ciders and Australian wine; and
- The “Get Down to Business” Centre: Meeting rooms for hire, including complimentary Wi-Fi, power, PCs and printing facilities * (temporarily closed due to COVID-safe requirements)
- New Lounge seating areas:
- The Gallery Lounge: The perfect place to take in the stunning views of the tarmac, The Gallery Lounge features comfy chairs and ottomans.
- The Sunroom: A mixture of cosy seating arrangements, it’s the perfect space to sit with a loved one, friend or colleague in comfort.
- The Long Stay: A chill-out zone adjacent to the Wine Down Bar with a focus on single seating for the solo traveller to catch up or unwind prior to their flight.
- Workbenches: offering power and data as well as a comfortable place to stay connected on the fly.
New Lounge menu
To coincide with the re-opening of the Melbourne Lounge, Virgin Australia has unveiled a range of exciting new dishes across the airline’s domestic Lounge network as part of its ongoing program to enhance the guest experience and appeal to its heartland customer.
Dishes will be available from a range of menus that will rotate monthly, providing variety and choice to suit a range of taste buds at any time of the day.
Highlight dishes:
- Sourdough toast topped with avocado fetta served with chilli flakes and a lemon wedge
- Breakfast croissant (ham, scrambled eggs, cheese)
- Penne bolognaise with parmesan cheese
- Potato rosti with crispy bacon and baked beans
- Avocado, baby spinach, grated, carrot, cucumber, Hummus, and falafel
wrap - Black rice, beetroot with walnut and fetta salad
- Karaage chicken served with slaw and mayonnaise
- Mediterranean plate with falafel, tabouli and hummus.
- Freshly baked cookies
- Chocolate coconut Macaroon
- Scones topped with fresh cream and Jam Gelato cups