Adelaide is enjoying a well-deserved moment in the aviation spotlight in Australia, as Qantas announces both a strategic new international route and unveils a brand-new Domestic Business Lounge, signalling a renewed promise to South Australia’s travelling community.
The new route between Adelaide and Auckland not only marks the return of international Qantas services from South Australia but also opens up seamless one-stop access to North America via the airline’s growing Auckland hub. With onward connections on the popular QF3 service from Auckland to New York, this move boosts both business and leisure opportunities for South Australian travellers looking to venture further afield.
While the route launch is exciting, we’re turning our eyes to the new Domestic Business Class lounge. The space is designed to showcase the region’s culture, cuisine and craftsmanship. Designed in collaboration with Australian architectural firm Architectus, the 1016-square-metre space can host up to 190 guests and draws inspiration from three South Australian icons: the lush Adelaide Botanic Gardens, the bustling Adelaide Central Market, and the rugged beauty of Kangaroo Island’s Flinders Chase National Park.
Whilst we love the reference points, we wished the airline doubled down on these clear Australian icons. On first impression, there’s a sea of soothing nature inspired colours, which nod to the overarching design palette synonymous with Qantas now.
There’s also a lot of biophilic design touches, with naturally occurring rounded corners to furniture, roof and architecture. However, the palette is perhaps so natural and paired back it’s missing any iconic design language that roots the lounge as a Qantas proposition.
The real sense of drama can be seen with both the stone horseshoe bar which acts as a focal point, and the Market Kitchen concept, a live cooking station inspired by the Central Market in Adelaide. Here, travellers will enjoy dishes curated by Qantas Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service Neil Perry, alongside lighter local fare developed in collaboration with South Australian culinary icon Maggie Beer. It’s a thoughtful gastronomic nod to the state’s rich food culture and a continuation of Qantas’ emphasis on authentic, regional dining.
In keeping with its design-led approach, the lounge features locally sourced furnishings, natural textures, and bespoke lighting installations—including a commissioned blown-glass centrepiece crafted by artisans at the JamFactory. The airline states that the warm, tactile interiors reflect a deep connection to place, offering an oasis of calm and comfort before departure.
Qantas Group CEO Cam Wallace reinforced the airline’s commitment to elevating the passenger experience. “For the millions of customers who visit our lounges each year, we know just how important it is to provide a premium pre-flight experience. The new lounge in Adelaide reflects the feedback from our frequent flyers and brings together the features they value most,” he said at the opening.
Notably, the space is as functional as it is stylish. Around 80% of seats offer power access—featuring USB-A, USB-C and wireless charging pads—ensuring business travellers and leisure guests alike can stay connected on the go.
The opening of the new Domestic Business Lounge also marks the completion of the multi-stage redevelopment of Qantas’ Adelaide lounge precinct, reinforcing the airline’s ongoing investment in both its lounge network and the South Australian market.
While this is the latest lounge to launch, it will be interesting to see if the upgrades to the Qantas lounges in Sydney will follow this organic and nature-inspired language, or perhaps inject more bold, regionally celebratory references to further the design story of the carrier before the arrival of the next generation interiors brought about by project Sunrise.
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