Preparing for take-off! Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson unveiling Brisbane Airport’s new upgrade to the Virgin lounge. Image: Virgin Australia.
Bridges between business and government don’t come much more glitzy than a public meeting between one of Australia’s most senior politicians and one of the world’s most prominent entrepreneurs.
On his latest landmark visit to Australia, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson met with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to unveil a major upgrade to Virgin Australia’s lounge and terminal facilities at Brisbane Domestic Airport.
Designed by renowned architect Tim Greer from Tonkin Zulaikha Greer with inspiration from Hans Hulsbosch, the upgrade was initiated in June 2013 and marks a significant boost to the ease and comfort available to domestic travelers.
The big focal point is the creation of more spacious comfortable facilities at the gates, seven new aerobridges and 16 new retailers.
Furthermore, the new Virgin Australia Lounge provides seating for more than 440 business class passengers and eligible guests, where they can go to separate areas to “work, rest and unwind”.
These expanded seating areas also provide guests with a place to wait and charge their devices with a number of power and USB points, lounge chairs and tables, as well as business services including complimentary Wi-Fi, power, PCs and printers.
Everything a government traveler needs in today’s on-the-go world, where demand for better ICT services are mounting, putting more pressure on transport authorities and aviation companies to provide substantially better services to ensure that customers stay connected.
But the magnitude of the upgrade goes deeper than a few snazzy tech and comfort upgrades, as Ms Palaszczuk reckons it’s a further sign of Virgin Australia’s firm commitment to Queensland.
“This enhancement of Virgin Australia’s Brisbane Airport facilities is a show of confidence in our great state as a place to do business. It’s a commitment to Queensland jobs, and Queensland tourism,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
And the company’s partnership has taken flight in the last decade-and-a-half.
“It’s now 15 years since the Queensland Government partnered with Virgin to establish their operational headquarters in Brisbane. And it’s 15 years since Virgin Blue’s first flight in Australia – from Brisbane to Sydney on 31 August 2000,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
She said back then the airline had one route, two aircraft, and a team of 200. But comparing that to today, Virgin Australia flies to 16 Queensland destinations and employs about 10,000 people across Australia – including more than 3000 in Brisbane.
With the spotlight on Sir Richard, the tour of the new facilities couldn’t have made him prouder as he described the unveiling as a “significant milestone”.
“Queensland has always felt like a second home to me,” Sir Richard said.
He said Brisbane and the broader Queensland market are an integral part of Virgin Australia’s flight network and today sets a new benchmark for all travellers at Brisbane Domestic Airport.
“After arriving here at Brisbane Domestic Airport today and experiencing the new facilities myself, I believe Australians enjoy one of the best domestic travel experiences in the world,” he said.
