India’s airport lounge boom: Comfort, cards, and growing demand

Last week the world’s largest airline alliance Star Alliance opened its first branded airport lounge in Asia at China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. In India, lounges are highly popular among traveers and massive queues outside airport lounges are common. India has over 60 lounges across over 140 airports in the country. “Consumers in India rate airport lounge access as one of the most appealing travel-related rewards,” according to airport and travel enhancement company Collinson International’s country director for India and South Asia Sumit Prakash. Collinson International has expanded its network of airport lounges and travel experiences in India by 15% over the last 12 months. The appeal of airport lounges is so significant among Indian travelers that they are being replicated at Indian railway stations, such as the Executive Lounge at Chennai Central, New Delhi, and Varanasi stations. “Airport lounges hold a special allure for Indian travelers. Some of the key factors for this include comfort, convenience, and food. The sense of luxury and exclusivity associated with airport lounges is also a significant draw,” airport lounge operator Encalm Hospitality’s CEO Vikas Sharma told Skift. Travel credit cards have played a key role in increasing airport lounge visits. Sharma said that many credit cards provide complimentary access to premium lounges, incentivizing cardholders to explore and use these facilities. “Credit card companies actively promote lounge access benefits through marketing campaigns and direct communication,” Sharma said. Story has more.<br/>