Capital gains new business lounge for airborne masses

Wellington Airport will next week open a business lounge for one-off use by the masses - for a price.

Its new "Wild at Heart Lounge" overlooking the Tarmac will open on Tuesday, with admission costing $19 over the next three months.

It will then go up to $25 although subscription options will then become available.

Up to 85 travellers will be able to graze on a selection of light food changed throughout the day and "boutique-style wines and beer with a local flavour where possible", a spokeswoman said.

Besides food and drink it will have newspapers, magazines, Wi-Fi and office facilities as well as showers.

The lounge will be popular with Pacific Blue and Jetstar business travellers who are not members of the Koru Club run by Air New Zealand. Koru Club individual charges, including a joining fee, are listed at $745 for individuals and $595 for corporates.

Wellington Airport chief executive Steve Fitzgerald said the new lounge could be used as a place to meet guests and colleagues.

"CEOs and CFOs of Wellington businesses and organisations have told me that they would like to see a lounge facility available for all business travel, supporting company policies of 'best fare of the day'," he said.

The lounge is on the second level of the main terminal. A spokeswoman said although the lounge was tailored especially to meet business travellers' needs, it would be open to anyone, including children.