The opening of the new two-story Vantage Bar has marked the completion of a multimillion-dollar refurbishment of Auckland Airport's departure area.
It's perhaps fitting the five-year project was completed in a location that has the best view of the most important part of departing on a holiday - the airplanes.
Vantage Bar is operated by Emirates Leisure Retail, a sister company to the airline of the same name.
"As the name suggests, Vantage Bar has it all! A series of large-scale screens for the sports enthusiast, epic views of the runway, and a dynamic two-level design located in the most prominent location in the international terminal," manager Justin Scotti said.
The new departure space has won numerous awards from organisations such as the NZ Institute of Architects and the NZ Property Council, and an international award for its food and beverage offerings.
The food and drink options are one of the first things travellers entering the space for the first time will notice, with 14 new outlets now open including Wondertree, Vangage Bar, Best Ugly Bagels and Better Burger. That's on top of the 32 new retail outlets that have opened since the reconstruction work too.
Auckland Airport retail and commercial manager Richard Barker said it was critical to get the right mix for the more than 14,000 people who pass through departures every day.
"This infrastructure project shows the quality that is being applied to every aspect of our multibillion-dollar infrastructure programme, as we strive to deliver the best experience possible for our customers.”
Newshub.
