Air Bew Zealand Opens New ‘The Lookout Lounge’ in Auckland
- Joe Breitfeller
- Dec 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Air New Zealand has unveiled their new ‘The Lookout Lounge’ at Auckland International Airport, ahead of the opening of the airline’s new Koru Lounges in 2026.
On Thursday (December 11, 2025), Air New Zealand unveiled their new ‘Lookout Lounge’ at Auckland International Airport. Located close to the departure gates on Level 2, the lounge will be open daily from 05:00 to 10:00, and then from 15:30 until 21:15. During the summer season, The Lookout Lounge will operate alongside the Koru Lounge, concurrent with the construction of new lounges at the airport. Guests will be welcomed at either lounge depending on availability, with both serving up the same signature Kiwi hospitality, great food and drinks, and that Air New Zealand warmth prior to take-off.
In Thursday’s announcement, Air New Zealand’s General Manager – Customer, Alisha Armstrong, said,
“As we head into our busiest travel season, The Lookout Lounge will give our customers more space and comfort before they head overseas. It's a friendly and relaxed environment influenced by the very best of Aotearoa.”
Inspired by New Zealand’s Great Walks, The Lookout Lounge pays homage to the spirit of exploration and discovery, with natural materials and an outlook that invites adventurers to pause and take in the view. Guests can enjoy a full buffet, a chef station serving made-to-order dishes that change throughout the day, and a full-service bar and barista station.
Construction of Air New Zealand’s new Koru Lounges at Auckland International begins in 2026 and will take place in two phases. The current lounge will remain open with reduced capacity while work is completed on the Koru Premier Lounge for Koru Platinum (currently Airpoints Elite), Koru Black, and Business Premier™ customers, due to open in 2027. The current lounge space will then be redeveloped, with the refreshed Koru lounge expected to open by late 2027.
Established in 1940, Air New Zealand first took to the skies between Auckland and Sydney with a Short S30 flying boat. Known for their warm Kiwi hospitality, the carrier currently operates a fleet ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320 Family jets to ATR and Q300 turboprop aircraft. The carrier’s modern and fuel-efficient fleet has an average age of 9.9 years. In 2024, Air New Zealand carried more than 16 million passengers. The carrier serves 20 different regions around New Zealand, and offers direct international service to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the U.S. Additionally, through strong relationships with alliance partners, the airline offers hundreds more destinations.
Source: Air New Zealand
