A new $2.9 million lounge will help passengers escape at the newly named Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM).
A new Escape Lounge is set for the airport main rotunda, following a vote from the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) on Wednesday. Board members approved a 12-year lease for the England-based CAVU Experiences company.
The new lounge is expected to be around 3,200 square feet. That footprint could expand up to 4,900 square feet if usage triggers are met. The airport would get 8 percent of gross revenue from the lounge and up to 11 percent if revenues rise above $4 million in a year.
“This initiative represents MSCAA’s continued commitment to prioritize an enhanced travel experience for all,” MEM said in a statement.
Airport officials said the project is in very early stages and could not share a timeline for the lounge’s construction or open.
Escape Lounges are open (or soon will be) in about 22 U.S. airports. The closest lounge to Memphis is Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville.
The lounges offer seating, complimentary hot and cold food, beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), restrooms, WiFi, charging ports, printing, and more. The company’s website says lounge entry prices start at $45 per person, $60 for walk-ups. Children under three are free.
Escape Lounges are similar to Delta Air Lines’ Delta Sky Clubs and American Airlines’ Admirals Clubs. However, Escape Lounges are open to the general public with no membership or credit card needed.
The agreement specifically calls for a Memphis-flavored food and beverage program featuring local producers and vendors.
CAVU, a global airport-services company owned by Manchester Airports Group, operates airport lounges in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Its parent company is majority-owned by local governments in Greater Manchester, England. That company posted of revenues of $1.3 billion last year.
