The Flying Kangaroo’s global lounges are set to become even better thanks to a network-wide upgrade to the tune of US$100 million.

Qantas Lounge staff in Singapore wore 1970s uniforms for the occasion. (Photo: Qantas)

As Qantas marks half a century since it opened the doors to its very first international lounge in Sydney, the Australian flag carrier’s Singapore lounges are gearing up for the year-end holidays. Premium flyers passing through or departing from Changi Airport in the weeks ahead will be treated to a special festive menu. The signature Qantas Christmas cocktail—a muddle of vodka, cherry brandy, and homemade strawberry syrup—is making its return; passengers can also indulge in the spirit of the season by enjoying carved glazed ham as well as roast turkey with all the trimmings.

These yuletide treats will complement the classics served at the Singapore First Lounge, where crowd-pleasers include the salt-and-pepper squid, prawn wontons with black vinegar and chili, and laksa with crayfish, rice noodles, beansprouts, and egg. Other choices featured on the brand-new December menu range from plant-based nasi lemak to Aussie bites like smashed avo on sourdough toast with bacon, poached eggs, and sriracha, plus Valrhona chocolate cream lamingtons.

Singapore’s Qantas Business Lounge first opened back in 2013, while the Qantas First Lounge made its debut in December 2019. Both stand out as frequent flyer favorites in the carrier’s global lounge network, with customers citing the strength of their F&B offerings and exceptional service style defined by warm Singaporean hospitality.

Major improvements across the board are now underway. This February, Qantas announced an ambitious investment of US$100 million into its global lounge network. Plans call for the development of a new flagship First Lounge at London Heathrow, which promises to elevate the pre-flight experience for top-tier customers traveling on QF2 services from London to Singapore. Three more lounges in key destinations are also in the pipeline, while upgrades to existing facilities include the expansion of the International Business lounges in both Sydney and Melbourne. The complete refurb of the former is scheduled for completion in early 2025.

This month happens to coincide with the 76th anniversary of the launch of Qantas’ Kangaroo Route between Sydney and London. Passengers back then were flown on a 38-seat Lockheed Constellation aircraft named after aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith—a one-way journey took five days, with six stopovers including overnights in Singapore and Cairo, for a total flying time of 58 hours. In its first year of operation, Qantas’ Kangaroo Route carried more than 7,500 passengers. Today, the carrier operates 40 return flights per week between Singapore and multiple Australian destinations.

qantas.com

Qantas Celebrates 50 Years of International Lounges

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