Air New Zealand unveils plans for new flagship Koru Lounge at Auckland International Airport
Set to become the most spacious lounge in the airline's network, the footprint of the overall space will nearly double, and will incorporate two lounges: a separate space for Airpoints Elite and Business Premier customers, and the second for Airpoints Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Airpoints Silver and Koru members.
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran says the new lounges will deliver an experience designed to enhance customers' journeys and a fresh new look and feel inspired by the best of Aotearoa.
"We've designed our new lounges around what our customers told us matters most - more space, more seating, and the ability to choose how they spend their time.
"Across both lounges, total seating capacity will increase by 70 per cent, providing a significant boost in comfort and capacity for international travellers passing through Auckland."
Throughout the lounges, areas designed to cater to a diverse range of travellers will be introduced.
"We know our customers value having spaces that are suited to their travel needs, whether that be a quiet business area that allows focus, room for families to play before jumping onboard a flight or a social space to enjoy a coffee before departure," Foran says.
The new interiors will celebrate the beautiful sights and textures of Aotearoa, brought to life through colours, materials, furnishings, and carefully curated lighting and art.
Construction is planned to begin in early 2026 and will take place in two phases. The current lounge will remain open with reduced capacity while work is completed on the new lounge for Airpoints Elite and Business Premier customers. Once the new lounge is open, the current lounge will be redeveloped and is expected to open by late 2027.
Throughout construction, customers will continue to be accommodated across different lounge spaces. Details of these spaces will be shared ahead of time and on the day of travel through the Air NZ app.
Editor's Notes
- Air New Zealand's current lounge at Auckland International Airport is approximately 2,000sqm. The new footprint will be approximately 1,700sqm larger, at 3,700sqm in total, and will incorporate two lounges
- Both lounges will feature fit-for-purpose spaces to suit travellers' needs, including:
- Improved business areas - A variety of productive workspaces from private rooms and single-seating booths will offer quiet space to focus
- Comfortable areas to relax - Comfortable lounge seating to offer a moment of calm before departure
- Dedicated family area - A dedicated family area that's been thoughtfully designed to be more suited to those travelling with their whānau
- A barista bar that will be closer to the entrance - We've repositioned the barista to be closer to the entrance, so those short on time can recharge faster
- The new lounge for Elite and Business Premier customers will be an elevated experience with more space, an expanded food and beverage offering, and views across the tarmac and runway
- More design details and features will be revealed later this year, along with construction start dates
ENDS
Issued by Air New Zealand Communications
Email: media@airnz.co.nz │ Phone: +64 21 747 320
About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 9.9 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. In 2024, the airline flew more than 16 million passengers. Air New Zealand was named 2025 World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and North America, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Airpoints, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, is seen as the most valuable loyalty programme in New Zealand with more than 4 million members. It allows members to earn Airpoints Dollars™ and Status Points for VIP benefits in the air and on the ground. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 16,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 186 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways.
For more information about Air New Zealand visit www.airnewzealand.com and for more information about Star Alliance visit www.staralliance.com