Emirates has reimagined its ground-breaking Onboard Lounge concept aboard its fleet of Airbus A380s, offering even more reason for cocktails at 39,000ft.
While economy class seats get ever smaller, and first class becomes increasingly rare, one Middle East airline continues to define luxury travel while instilling it with more than a touch of the early jet age’s glamour.
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While Emirates wasn’t the first to offer a cocktail bar in the skies – that distinction goes to Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic, which features a sit-up cocktail bar in its Upper Class cabin that was made famous by James Bond in Quantum of Solace) – Dubai’s Emirates airline, presently Skytrax’s world’s best, has certainly maintained the benchmark for good mixology at altitude and its newly-enhanced lounge concept for its massive fleet of A380 superjumbos will ensure it’s always Happy Hour at 39,000ft.
Taking inspiration from the cabins of private yachts, the re-envisioned Onboard Lounge (which is accessible to business and first class passengers), part of a multi-million dollar interiors upgrade, features new seating and table arrangements beside the windows on both sides of the now-iconic horseshoe-shaped cocktail bar; soundproofed curtains to partition the bar from the rest of the upper deck Business Class cabin; integrated LED lighting; subwoofers for surround sound; and a 55-inch LCD screen, which will display the latest flight information as well as live sports and news updates.
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With space to accommodate 26 passengers – including eight seated – the new-look Lounge will be dressed in lighter, champagne colours, with accents in dark wood. Exclusive to First and Business Class passengers, the Lounge offers gourmet canapés, handpicked wines from around the world, and limited-edition fine spirits, as well as signature cocktails prepared by a resident bartender. The new Onboard Lounge will debut in July 2017.
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