In April 2025, Qantas revealed plans to close its lounge at Auckland International Airport (AKL) for an extensive redevelopment. The exciting news is that this lounge is just over a week away from reopening.
**Details of the new Qantas Lounge Auckland**
On December 17, 2025, the Qantas Lounge Auckland will relaunch following an expansion and complete renovation. The lounge’s size is now 60% greater than previously, accommodating over 370 guests with designated areas for dining, relaxation, and work.
For the first time in the Qantas global lounge network, oneworld Emerald travelers (including Qantas Platinum One and Platinum members) will enjoy a dedicated a la carte dining section. The menu, crafted by Neil Perry, features dishes such as crumbled local fish and chips, salt and pepper squid, and signature pavlova, providing a mini first-class lounge experience.
There will also be a standard buffet area showcasing New Zealand produce and wine, along with a gelato station and a cocktail bar offering premium drinks and barista coffee.
The lounge’s design seeks to incorporate nature, with living green walls, travertine tiles, and terrazzo tabletops contributing to a tranquil and natural environment. To ensure passengers remain connected, 70% of seating provides direct access to a charging port. The lounge includes 15 shower suites for customers to refresh themselves.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace describes the new lounge as a major investment in the lounge network, improving the customer experience in a primary hub that connects travelers across the Tasman and around the globe. The lounge celebrates New Zealand’s finest and is tailored for work, relaxation over meals, or refreshing during transit.
**This looks like an impressive new lounge facility!**
Auckland is a significant market for Qantas, given the strong connections between Australia and New Zealand. Qantas also routes its flight to New York (JFK) through Auckland, making this market vital. Even with the introduction of Project Sunrise flights, the route via Auckland will continue.
The previous Qantas Lounge Auckland was due for an upgrade, and the new design represents a substantial enhancement. Although there is no dedicated first-class lounge anymore, the exclusive section for oneworld Emerald members makes up for it.
**Bottom line**
The brand-new Qantas Lounge Auckland will be opening shortly, offering a vast improvement over the former lounge. With a revamped design, increased seating capacity, and a dedicated dining area for oneworld Emerald members, it guarantees a superior passenger experience at one of Qantas’ key international locations.