Singapore Airlines (SQ) has confirmed a full relocation and rebuild of its SilverKris Lounge at Melbourne Airport (MEL), with the new facility expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, reported Point Hacks. The new lounge that is set to be 30 per cent larger than the current space, constructed in a light, airy new location instead of its present basement position, and will feature the airline’s latest design language and amenities.
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Singapore Airlines lounge network
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Lounge Brand | SilverKris Lounge and KrisFlyer Gold Lounge |
| Operated By | Singapore Airlines (SQ), which has a fleet size of 156 aircraft |
| Primary Hub | Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), which has lounges such as SilverKris, Marhaba Lounge, Qantas Business lounge, Emirates lounge, among others. |
| Flagship Lounges at SIN |
|
| Global Lounge Locations (2025) | 14 SilverKris lounges worldwide — examples: London LHR, Sydney SYD, Melbourne MEL, Tokyo NRT. |
| Recent Openings / Upgrades |
|
| Design Partner | Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) |
| Key Features |
|
| Access Eligibility | First/Business passengers and eligible elite members governed by Star Alliance access policy |
| Expansion Strategy (2025–26) | Global modernization and digital guest services as per SIA corporate news |
| Differentiation vs KrisFlyer Gold |
|
| Sustainability Initiatives | Local sourcing, reduced single-use plastics, energy efficiency in new builds. (SIA Sustainability Report 2024/25) |
| Estimated Annual Visitors | >3 million global lounge visitors (traffic recovery cited in SIA reporting). (SIA Annual Report 2024/25) |
| Upcoming Lounges (planned) | Renovations / rollouts referenced for FRA, DEL, SFO in industry coverage. |
Why the Lounge Upgrade at Melbourne Airport Matters
By investing in a brand-new lounge in the aerodrome in Melbourne, Singapore Airlines seeks to align its offering with its flagship lounges, improve passenger experience, and have an edge in the Australian market.
Timothy Chua, Vice President of Lounge Development and Inflight Operations, in an interview with Point Hacks, said:
“The most significant infrastructure – and of course, probably the most sought after from our airline customers – is an expansion of that central satellite area. (This) will provide more seating and circulation to the new gates. But the idea is that the level above departures will become the home of an expanded gate lounge area. I think it’s fair to say all our (existing) airline customers would like to move up there over time.”
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge – Singapore (SIN)
| Location | Operating Hours |
|---|---|
| T2, First Floor | 04:00 AM – 06:30 AM 07:35 AM – 10:00 AM 01:40 PM – 06:45 PM 09:35 PM – 12:00 Midnight |
Design and Scale of Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris New Lounge
The forthcoming lounge at Melbourne is not a mere refurbishment and is located in a new space chosen outside the current basement level of Terminal 2.
Key features revealed so far include:
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30 % increase in floor area compared with the current facility.
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A dedicated bar, live-cooking stations, and productivity pods intended to support work, relaxation and socialising.
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The signature “batik wall” entrance motif that Singapore Airlines uses in its latest lounges, and this was confirmed exclusively by Mainly Miles.
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A move into what may be a higher-visibility, window-lined space with natural light, reflecting recent infrastructure plans at the airport.
An exact location where the upgraded lounge is going to be within the terminal remains under wraps. It is expected that the construction will start “soon”, meaning that there’s no clear date (as of now) when the lounge will open.
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Comparison with past lounge upgrades
Here is how Melbourne’s upcoming upgrade stacks up against similar past lounge redevelopments by Singapore Airlines:
| Category | Perth Airport (PER) | Sydney Airport (SYD) |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Australia | Australia |
| Type of Update | All-new SilverKris Lounge | Light makeover |
| Scale & Timing | Completed in 2024; full rebuild | Refreshed in 2024; existing structure retained |
| Design Concept | Latest “Home Away from Home” design by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) | Updated seating, lighting, and finishes; retains pre-2019 layout |
| Remarks | The first international SilverKris Lounge to adopt Singapore Airlines’ refreshed global lounge concept, following the Changi Airport (SIN) revamp in 2022. | A soft upgrade ahead of a planned long-term rebuild under Singapore Airlines’ global lounge renewal program. |
Where might Melbourne’s SilverKris be located?
Melbourne Airport is home to fifteen lounges. These are the following:
Domestic Membership Lounges
| Airline / Lounge | Location |
|---|---|
| Virgin Australia (Virgin Australia Lounge) | T3, mezzanine floor |
| Virgin Australia (Virgin Australia Lounge Pop-up) | T3, adjacent to Virgin Australia check-in |
| Qantas (The Qantas Club) | T1, first floor |
| REX (The REX Lounge) | T4, ground floor at Gate 30 |
International Airline & Membership Lounges
| Airline / Lounge | Operating Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas First | N/A | T2, third floor |
| Singapore Airlines (SilverKris Lounge) | 04:00–06:30, 07:35–10:00, 13:40–18:45, 21:35–00:00 | T2, first floor |
| Air New Zealand / United Airlines | N/A | T2, ground floor |
| Emirates (Emirates Lounge) | N/A | T2, third floor |
| American Express Centurion Lounge | 06:00–22:00, daily | T2, first floor (Satellite Level, Departures) |
Open Access Lounges
| Lounge | Operating Hours | Location & Features |
|---|---|---|
| The House by Aspire Lounge | 07:00–22:00 | T2 International Departures; seasonal menus, self-serve dishes, fully tended bar, barista-made coffee |
| Marhaba Lounge | 24/7 | T2 International Departures; free WiFi, male & female showers, massage chairs, departure screens |
| Plaza Premium Lounge | Varies | T2 International Departures; modern amenities, pre-booking or pay-on-day access |
| The Chaplaincy | Varies | T2 International Departures; quiet space for reflection or work |
A final note on Where SilverKris might be in Melbourne Airport
Among all these lounges, five of the following have no exterior views because they lie beneath the concourse, and according to Point Hacks, the space nicknamed the ‘dungeon’:
- American Express Centurion Lounge
- Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge
- Plaza Premium Lounge
- Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Class Lounge
- Qantas International Business Lounge
The sampepublication also caught up with Melbourne Airport’s Chief of Aviation, Jim Parashos, who hinted about the possibility of an “expansion of that central satellite area”, which would inturn “provide more seating and circulation to the new gates“:
“But the idea is that the level above departures will become the home of an expanded gate lounge area. I think it’s fair to say all our (existing) airline customers would like to move up there over time. But we are also exploring some shorter-term opportunities where they do exist. They’re very limited, but we are hoping by the end of the year to … identify one or two additional lounge spaces, until the terminal is fully expanded.”
Speaking of floor space below decks, Parashos also touched upon the fact that Melbourne Airport was “looking to push the arrivals hall out to expand both the length of our reclaims and to add additional reclaim and circulation space”. That would inturn provide additional check-in capacity upstairs.