NEW DELHI: Air India’s lounge at Delhi Airport’s T3 (international side) will be closed for a complete revamp from Friday (April 19). A new lounge — much bigger than the existing one — will open in its place in about a year, say AI officials. “During this time, first and business class passengers and Flying Returns platinum and gold members can (go to the) Encalm Privé lounge on level 3… until we are back with our new AI Maharaja lounge,” AI said in a statement.
Encalm Hospitality, which currently operates lounges only at GMR Group-run airports in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa Mopa, will build and operate the new lounge, AI sources say. The existing AI lounge on the T3 international side, though not dilapidated, was very low on amenities and had a minimal selection of food and beverage options. Also as AI grows its fleet size, it needs a bigger lounge at main hub airports.
Encalm Hospitality, say sources, will also operate AI lounge on the domestic side of IGIA’s T3. “In about 1.5-2 years, the location of that lounge will also be changed. A new area is being developed where a bigger domestic side lounge for AI will come up. That will also be built by Encalm,” say sources.
AI’s international passengers have started using the Encalm lounge on T3 international side since Thursday afternoon.