The highly anticipated new Aspire Executive Lounge has officially opened its doors at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA), marking the completion of the airport’s latest multi-million-pound phase of passenger improvements.
Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Liam Robinson, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening, joined by guests from across the region’s business community, visitor economy, local authorities and airline partners.
Swissport’s James Millett and Cllr Liam Robinson with Swissport’s David Collyer and LJLA’s CEO John Irving helping to cut the ribbon on the new lounge.
Operated by Swissport, the new lounge replaces the previous, smaller Aspire Lounge, which first welcomed travellers back in May 2012. Having grown increasingly popular over the years, even after an expansion and refurbishment, demand for a larger, more luxurious space became clear.
Located just beyond the World Duty Free area, the brand-new Aspire Executive Lounge represents a multi-million-pound investment and offers more than three times the floor space of its predecessor. It can now welcome over 200 guests at a time, providing a calm, comfortable setting for passengers before their flights.
A standout addition to the new facility is the introduction of a two-tier offering. Guests can choose between the signature Aspire Lounge experience or upgrade to the new Luxe by Aspire, an adults-only space featuring private booths, communal work areas, and an elevated selection of premium snacks and drinks. For the first time, the lounge also includes its own dedicated toilet facilities.
This latest development has created 20 new jobs at the airport and forms part of LJLA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the passenger experience.
Open daily from 4am to 9pm, the lounge is available to all travellers, with advance bookings strongly encouraged due to high demand. It also accepts various popular priority passes and tour operator bookings. Early reservations have already exceeded expectations, with many passengers eager to enjoy a relaxing start to their journey in this stylish new setting.
Designed exclusively for Liverpool, the new Aspire Lounge features a striking cityscape mural celebrating the rich history and culture of the Liverpool City Region, creating a space that feels distinctly local while offering the comfort and quality expected from the Aspire brand.
Lucy O’Shaughnessy, Commercial Director at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said:
“The new Aspire Executive Lounge brings the airport some much needed additional capacity following the growing popularity of the smaller Aspire Lounge in recent years.
Working closely with Swissport, we have listened to passenger feedback and not only created a facility much larger in size and more spacious, but also improved the customer offer by incorporating dedicated new toilets and baby change facilities, an improved hot meal offer and even a ‘calm space’, plus the addition of the new Lux by Aspire area for passengers wanting to really treat themselves.
This completes our latest multi-million pound programme of passenger improvements, setting the airport up for further passenger growth.”
David Collyer, Global Senior Vice President of Aspire Executive Lounges, said:
“This launch represents another important step in our journey to deliver insight-driven lounge experiences tailored to the evolving needs of our guests. By bringing two distinct lounge concepts together, we’re proud to offer a world-class facility that enhances Liverpool’s airport experience.
Expanding our presence here further reaffirms the City’s role as a key hub in our global lounge network.”
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