LOS ANGELES, July 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Etihad
Airways has today officially opened its new First and Business
Class Lounge within the Tom Bradley International Terminal at
Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX). Building on a growing global reputation for product
innovation and development, the lounge reflects a commitment to
delivering exceptional hospitality experiences for First and
Business Class guests departing on Etihad Airways' daily EY170
Boeing 777 services from the US West Coast's commercial and
entertainment hub.
Together with Etihad Airways' Premium Lounges in Washington, D.C., and New York's JFK, the new First & Business
Class Lounge Los Angeles is the airline's third dedicated
hospitality haven in the Americas, and the first on the US West
Coast.
The new facility moves away from the normal conventions of
airport lounge design, and features the same 'Modern Arabian'
decorative elements which characterize Etihad Airways' new
international lounges. The décor draws inspiration from the
geometric patterns found in the traditional and modern architecture
of Abu Dhabi and its spectacular
desert landscape.
Martin Drew, Etihad Airways
Senior Vice President Americas, said: "As a world-leading airline,
Etihad Airways continues to redefine travel, setting new benchmarks
for innovative service on the ground and in the air."
"Our new First and Business Class Lounge in Los Angeles demonstrates our unwavering
commitment to travelers on the US West Coast, and in the United States as a whole, by providing
them with the intuitive hospitality they have come to expect from
our people and our brand. It gives us great pleasure to inaugurate
this facility."
"LAWA and our airline partners are committed to continuing our
initiatives to transform and modernize LAX into a world-class
airport that Angelenos and visitors deserve," said Los Angeles
World Airports (LAWA) Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint. "We applaud Etihad Airways in
bringing this exciting, new premium lounge experience that truly
caters to the modern traveler."
More akin to top hotels, fine dining establishments and private
members' clubs, the new lounge provides a tranquil environment in
which guests can relax, re-energize, be entertained, and enjoy the
finest culinary experiences and hospitality services for which the
airline is renowned. The space features luxuriously appointed
seating, an à la carte dining area, showcase bar, TV area, shower
facilities, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, multi-zone electrical
and USB power outlets, and a selection of international magazines
and daily newspapers. A separate VIP area can also be made
available when required.
Conveniently located airside, overlooking the renovated
terminal's exclusive shopping promenade and measuring
407m2, the Etihad Airways First & Business Class
Lounge Los Angeles is open for the exclusive use of Etihad First Class and Business Class guests,
Etihad Guest Platinum, Gold and Silver members flying on EY170, and
Etihad Airways Partner (EAP) airlines' equivalent Platinum and Gold
members.
The new Los Angeles facility
adds to the airline's expanding collection of 15 Premium Lounges
including Abu Dhabi (new dedicated
signature First Class Lounge and Spa in Terminal 3; Premium Lounges
in Terminals 1 and 3; a Premium Lounge within the unique US
Preclearance facility, and the Premium Arrivals Lounge),
Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Washington
D.C., New York JFK, Sydney
and Melbourne.
Etihad Airways commenced daily non-stop service between
Los Angeles (LAX) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on
July 1, 2014. In addition, the
airline offers daily services between Abu
Dhabi and Chicago,
San Francisco and Washington, D.C. (IAD), as well as twice-daily
services to New York (JFK) and
three-times-weekly services to Dallas/Fort Worth.
Pic 1: Pictured flanked by Etihad Airways First &
Business Class Lounge Los Angeles staff are, from left:
Martin Drew, Etihad Airways Senior
Vice President for the Americas, Haitham Al
Subaihi, Etihad Airways Director of Visual Communications,
Deborah Flint, Los Angeles World
Airports Chief Executive Officer, James
Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive
Officer, and Hareb Al Muhairy, Etihad Airways Senior Vice President
Corporate and International Affairs, celebrate the official opening
of the Etihad Airways First & Business Class Lounge Los
Angeles.
For a gallery of high resolution images of the lounge please
download from this link:
http://anthonycollins.pixieset.com/etihadlaxlounge/ (Download
PIN: 3480)
About the Etihad Airways First & Business Class Lounge
Los Angeles
Guests are welcomed by a specialized team of
reception and lounge staff, waiters and bar tenders - all of whom
have undergone a rigorous selection process, and dedicated
hospitality training.
Superior dining options are served à la carte and buffet-style
in an exclusive dining area. Menus are changed frequently and
feature a choice of dishes inspired by the flavors of California, the Middle East and around the world. Cuisine is
prepared on-site by a team of highly skilled chefs, using fresh
local, sustainably and ethically sourced seasonal produce. An
accompanying wine list has been carefully chosen to match the
culinary offering and includes a selection of fine Californian and
European labels.
The sculptural showcase bar, which is now a striking hallmark of
Etihad Airways' new collection of global lounges, features ten
leather bar stools with USB power points adjacent to each, and is
stocked with 75 premium spirits, champagne and aperitifs.
A bespoke cocktail and mocktail menu has been specially
developed in partnership with leading London-based beverage consultancy Fluid
Movement. The signature cocktail drink is the Los Angeles, inspired by the city's strong
Latin influences and made with Tequila and homemade rice milk,
spiced and enriched with cocao nib and chili liqueur, finished off
with a spiced, cotton candy highball, made using the lounge's own
cotton candy machine.
All cocktails and mocktails featured on the menu are specially
created, one-of-a-kind, and have been named after Etihad Airways'
leading destinations, including Abu
Dhabi, New York,
Melbourne, Shanghai, Paris, Mumbai, Sydney and London. Using ingredients inspired by these
cities, the cocktails and mocktails are hand-created by specially
trained mixologists, using home-made syrups and garnishes. The bar
also offers a selection of 'modern classics', such as the Mach 10
Mojito. Negroni lovers will be delighted to know their favorite
aperitif is mixed, barreled and aged behind the bar.
About Fluid Movement
Fluid Movement was established in
2009, as a London-based beverage
consultancy and events company. Its founders' goal was to provide
innovative and experiential drinking experiences to their clients,
the likes of which had never been seen before.
Since then, Fluid Movement has conducted consultancy, training
and events in more than 30 countries worldwide. They have also
opened four of their own award-winning venues in London (Purl in 2010, Whistling Shop in 2011,
Dach & Sons in 2012, Surfside in 2014, and Black Rock in 2016).
They have made a positive impact on cocktail culture globally, most
notably through pioneering the 'modern-speakeasy' concept and their
innovative and forward-thinking approach to cocktails.
Fluid Movement, led by Tristan
Stephenson and Thomas Aske –
two of the founding members – continue to operate the Worship
Street Whistling Shop in London (World's Fifty best bars 2011 &
2012), Surf-Side Cafe & Bar in Cornwall (Times Top 50 alfresco Dining 2015
#1) as well as working on a wide range of projects including
brand development, restaurant and bar consultancy, drinks research
and seminars.
Fluid Movement's partnership with Etihad Airways began in
November 2015 ahead of the opening of
the airline's Premium Lounge at New
York's John F Kennedy Airport.
Given a brief to develop a one-of-a kind cocktail menu exclusive
to Etihad Airways Premium Lounges, the team at Fluid Movement
created a selection of cocktails and mocktails inspired by
cutting-edge drinking trends and intercontinental flavors. These
bespoke and exclusive beverages are made using freshly prepared
syrups, flavored salts dried flowers, dehydrated fruit and
garnishes such as handmade candy floss.
Fluid Movement also provides the on-site training of Etihad
Airways in-house mixologists who are employed currently in its
Premium Lounges at JFK, Melbourne
and its First Class Lounge and Spa.
For more information about Fluid Movement visit
http://www.fluid-movement.com/
About Etihad Aviation Group
Etihad Aviation Group
(EAG) is a diversified global aviation and travel group comprising
four business divisions – Etihad Airways, the national airline of
the United Arab Emirates, Etihad
Engineering, Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners. The group has
minority investments in seven airlines: airberlin, Air Serbia, Air
Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and
Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional.
From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad
Airways flies to, or has announced plans to serve, 117 passenger
and cargo destinations in the Middle
East, Africa, Europe, Asia,
Australia and the Americas. The
airline has a fleet of 123 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with
204 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s,
25 Boeing 777Xs, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. For more
information, please visit: www.etihad.com
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SOURCE Etihad Airways