Photo: IAA The Israel Airports Authority announced the awarding of the tender to two international franchise groups for operating the five luxury lounges at Terminal 3 of Ben-Gurion Airport.
The lounges, previously managed by Dan Hotels in collaboration with QAS, will now be operated by two different groups: the international company Swissport along with QAS Israel Ltd, a subsidiary of Knafaim Holdings in joint ownership with Swissport International, and JETEX in partnership with LAYAM, owned by businessman Teddy Sagi.
The contract signed with the two groups is for a period of six years, with an option to extend for an additional three years. The IAA notes that dividing the tender between two different operators aims to improve service levels, increase operational flexibility, and offer a broader range of services to passengers.
Photo: IAAAs reported in PassportNews last week, QAS and Swissport will manage three of the five lounges, through a dedicated company to be established for this purpose. Swissport, one of the world's leading companies in ground services for passengers and cargo, operates in over 280 airports worldwide. Among other activities, it operates the brand Aspire Executive Lounges in approximately 101 locations, including major airports in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. The collaboration with Israeli QAS will emphasize a luxurious hospitality experience and refined cuisine, directed by chefs Omri Omar (Messa, Santi) and Oren Ofek (Kitchen Market).
The second license was granted to JETEX, which operates lounges in major cities worldwide, including Paris, Madrid, Abu Dhabi, and more, in partnership with LAYAM, known for operating duty-free shops in Israel. The companies announced their intention to launch a new digital loyalty club as part of the anticipated upgrade.
The new lounges are expected to open to the public in October, following the completion of the planning and construction period.
Photo: IAA