A company planning to open dozens of passenger lounges at airports around the world will open its first facility, Airspace Lounge, in May at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The lounge, to be located at BWI's concourse D, will offer passengers of any airline food, snacks, coffee, wireless Internet, on-site computers and access to a cash bar for a day pass starting at $17.50. The concourse currently serves AirTran, Cape Air, Continental, United and US Airways.
Managers of Airspace Lounge, an airport lounge developer led by Anthony Tangorra, a former airline transportation consultant, say they plan to "re-define the airport experience," by giving passengers a place to relax and work near their gate. Their model calls for lounges that are less restrictive and less expensive than some airline clubs, according to the company's website.
Airspace Lounge says it plans to open 30 to 40 airport lounges over the next few years.
"Just over 30 years ago, the airlines were democratized and luxuries became fewer and fewer as customers demanded low fares," Tangorra, chief executive officer, said in a statement. "After experiencing the loss of the little extras that once made air travel special, airport customers now long for personal space to work or relax near their gates."
Lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com