Qantas' rebuilt Sydney business lounge opens in December, earlier than planned, with an outdoor terrace
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson says the expanded Sydney International Business Lounge opens next month, ahead of its 2027 target, with 30% more seats.
Qantas says its rebuilt International Business Lounge at Sydney Airport will open in December. CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed the timing at the airline's annual general meeting in Canberra on Nov. 6, according to the published address.
"Our redeveloped and expanded Sydney International Business Lounge will open next month," the address says. It promises "an outdoor terrace with great views of the tarmac."
That is earlier than first planned. When Qantas announced the project in November 2025, it said the work was set to finish in 2027, according to its travel agent update. Qantas has not given an exact opening date.
What's new in the lounge#
Qantas and the Sydney Morning Herald laid out the plans when the project was announced. Here is what has been confirmed.
| Feature | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | More than 30% extra seats | Qantas, SMH |
| Terrace | Outdoor terrace with tarmac and skyline views | Qantas |
| Terrace size | About 150 square meters | SMH |
| Design | Inspired by the Blue Mountains and Bondi | Qantas |
| Designers | Caon Design Office and Akin Atelier | SMH |
| Work zones | Flexible areas with USB-C and wireless charging | SMH |
An outdoor terrace is rare in Qantas' network. The Herald reported it is meant as a nod to pre-flight wellness before the ultra-long Project Sunrise flights due in 2027.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace tied the project to demand at the front of the plane. "As the demand for premium travel increases, we're creating more space, more dining options and a completely enhanced on-ground experience," he said, as quoted by the Herald.
The year in a temporary lounge#
The old lounge closed for the rebuild in December 2025. Since Dec. 8, 2025, Qantas has used a temporary business lounge near Gate 24, its agency notice said. In busy periods, Qantas warned that some guests might be sent to another lounge instead.
That makes this reopening a big deal for regular Sydney flyers. The temporary space was always meant to be a stopgap.
- Qantas announces the redesign
- Temporary lounge opens near Gate 24
- CEO says the new lounge opens next month
- New lounge due to open
- Original target for the work to finish
Source: Qantas
Who can use it#
The lounge sits in Sydney's international terminal. It is Qantas' business lounge there, one step below its First Lounge. Qantas has not announced any change to its access rules with the reopening.
You can see the current access details in our listing for the Qantas International Business Lounge in Sydney. We will update it once the new lounge opens.
More Qantas news from the meeting#
The lounge was not the only update at the meeting. Hudson also covered several changes that will matter to premium travelers soon.
| Update | Timing | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Status Credits on the ground | From December | Frequent Flyer members can earn status without flying |
| Sydney to Las Vegas | From December | A new nonstop route to the US |
| Sydney to Cape Town | From November 2027 | A new route to South Africa |
The Status Credit change is a big one for lounge access. It gives members a new path to Silver and Gold status. Our sister site Points Frog has the full breakdown.
What we still don't know#
Qantas has not named the exact day the lounge opens. It also has not shared new photos of the finished space. The image on this page is an official Qantas render, not a photo.
We will add the opening date and real photos once Qantas releases them.
Cite this article
Patrick Karsh. “Qantas' rebuilt Sydney business lounge opens in December, earlier than planned, with an outdoor terrace.” Lounge Frog. Published 2026-11-09. https://www.loungefrog.com/news/qantas-sydney-international-business-lounge-reopens-december-2026-terrace
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