Swissport and Airport Dimensions have announced plans to add two facilities under the No1 Lounges portfolio at London Luton airport.
Firstly let’s take a step back and look at the background to this. In 2021 Airport Dimensions (a subsidiary of Collinson – owner of the Priority Pass brand) formed a joint venture with Swissport to acquire No1 Lounges.
A Clubrooms lounge (part of the No1 Lounges portfolio) had opened in 2019 at London Luton airport, but this closed in 2020 following the onset of Covid-19, and did not initially form part of the above agreement. It has remained closed since then.
Meanwhile there is an Aspire Lounge at Luton airport, which reopened in 2020 following renovation and has been operating since. Business Traveller last visited this lounge in 2017.
Airport Dimensions has now confirmed that both of the above spaces will operate under the No1 Lounges portfolio from next year.
The current Aspire Lounge will be renovated and open under the My Lounge concept in summer 2024, offering 155 seats and a self-service pantry, with design “inspired by loft-style living”.
A spokesperson for Airport Dimensions has confirmed that the Aspire lounge “will remain open as the same facility until work commences to redevelop the space into a My Lounge”.
And work will also begin “imminently” on the former Clubrooms, with the space reopening as a No1 Lounge towards the end of this year. It will have a capacity for 70 guests, “and offer a more premium experience, in a variety of different seating to emphasise the stylish pre-departure experience with flexibility and choice”. There will be a buffet with hot and cold dishes, and a fully tended bar.
The SwissportALD partnership currently operates 12 lounges in the UK, across Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow airports. These include facilities under the No1 Lounge, My Lounge, Clubrooms, Club Aspire and The Gateway brands.
Commenting on the news Shaun Weston, managing director of No1 Lounges, a SwissportALD Holdings company, said:
“We are delighted to have been selected as the airport lounge provider at London Luton Airport, adding to our growing UK network of No1 Lounges.
“We’re excited to bring our unique brand of stylish travel experiences to LLA, which will be accessible for everyone.
“The team at No1 are committed to developing lounge spaces at LLA with a strong sense of place and delivering exceptional guest experience, design and comfort for passengers to enjoy before they fly.”