Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, has further enhanced the award winning services offered by Europes Best Airline* with a 40 per cent expansion and design refurbishment of its departure lounge at Ataturk International Airport.

Already a world-class facility, Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul, has added another 2400 m2 to its existing 3500 m2, to meet the needs of growing passenger numbers. Located in the departure area of Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, the expanded lounge adds a second floor to the existing space, connected with a spiral staircase that integrates a global sphere, representing the worldwide reach of Turkish Airlines.

The new extension creates additional space and increases the capacity of the lounge to over 1000 guests. The existing facility, which included a childrens playground, library, billiards area, prayer room and teleconference section, has seen an expansion of the relaxation and shower space as well as additional massage beds. The enhanced lounge caters to virtually every passenger needwhether relaxing or finding activities for pre-flight time.

The lounge is operated by Turkish Airlines catering partner, TURKISH DO&CO, a group that has repeatedly won awards for providing Turkish Airlines passengers with the best meals in the sky. The same attention to detail and variety is evident in the multiple and changing varieties of food available to the lounge guests. Meals and refreshments are provided as appropriate to the time of day and many items are cooked on site to ensure maximum flavor and freshness. There is an equally varied selection of beverages to cater for every passengers needs.

The lounge combines both modern and traditional design, a space able to provide traditional Turkish hospitality in a setting that offers the most modern conveniences, such as free Wi-Fi access through the lounge.

The spiral staircase connects the two sections of the lounge and its design represents the connectivity that Turkish Airlines provides to its global customer base. It incorporates a tea garden reminiscent of those found in Istanbul and provides an experience similar to places in the city where both residents and visitors can enjoy a Turkish tea and bagel.

For those looking for a bit of excitement, there is a miniature model of Istanbul through which guests may experience a virtual car rally as well as other game consoles and electronic diversions. In keeping with Turkish Airlines ongoing support of golf related events such as Turkish Airlines Open, the lounge includes a realistic golf simulator for passengers interested in trying their skills while awaiting a flight.

If you wish to have heartier fare or wish to learn a bit about Turkish cuisine, the lounge provides unique tastes of Turkish and World dishes with a twist not found in other airline lounges. For instance, pastries prepared according to the recipes from Viennas famous pastry shop, Demel. And a local corner where chefs prepare regional Turkish delicacies that appeal to both the eye and taste buds under a classically designed copper range hood--including Mant and Gzleme. In another corner guests can sample famous specialties such as Turkish Pide and Brek; newly roasted in its special oven. Plus, throughout the lounge there are offerings of fruit, salads, appetizers and nuts as part of Turkish hospitality.

In short, the refurbished and expanded lounge offers, depending on ones mood and needs, a place of quiet relaxation, a place to shower and revive, a place to snack, dine or watch food presentations, a spot for children to play and enjoy an arcade full of exciting and challenging electronic diversions. These are all integrated into a space that reflects both Ottoman and Seljuk architectural roots with different activities available in each colonnaded section. The wide range of activities and services transforms preflight or connecting time into its own special experience, unique to Turkish Airlines.