I’m back with another Lounge Blog as I continue our calendar through the year. So this time we are exploring the sights, sounds and smell of the Tashkent’s recently upgraded business lounge at Terminal 2. I got a good look at what’s on offer.
Tashkent International Airport now handles more than 10mn passengers a year, and those travelling in business class can unwind in the asaCIP Business Lounge. It is a comfortable way to start a journey, and lounge guests also have access to dedicated check-in, emigration, and security facilities, speeding up the departure process.
The lounge has a seating capacity of 180, but as it is unusual for multiple flights to depart simultaneously, the space rarely feels busy. Past the check-in and emigration desks, which are staffed by efficient, multilingual personnel, is a large, open-plan seating area with leather Chesterfield-style sofas and more casual furniture. There is a soft drinks station and a duty-free shop accessible only to business lounge guests. Free WiFi is available throughout.
The majority of the facilities are upstairs, reached via a lift. Here a well-designed restaurant serves a buffet of hot meals and snacks throughout the day, with plenty of continental and national favourites, including freshly baked samsa, Uzbekistan’s popular stuffed pastries. The chequerboard flooring and largely monochrome decor is stylish, and individual lamps soften the overhead lighting.
Some aspects feel as though they have been borrowed from a Mayfair gentlemen’s club, most notably the wood-panelled smoking room and the well-stocked bar, though the bar stools are more reminiscent of diner furniture. All the major international drinks brands are served, including whiskies by Laphroaig and Talisker, and you can also opt for locally made wines, beers, and spirits.
Unusually, the lounge also has a children’s play area. This reflects a rising trend of Uzbek and Middle Eastern passengers travelling for leisure and booking business class for the whole family. The play room has enough toys and activities to occupy young children for an hour or two, and as it is separate from the restaurant and bar, any noise is contained.
The airport authorities have invested in wellness, too. Guests can ease tired muscles before a flight with a session in a massage chair, and anyone worried about their blood pressure will find monitors installed by prolife+ for a quick check and some reassurance. When departure time comes, it is only a short, stress-free walk from the lounge to the gate.
Paid entry
Passengers not flying business class with Uzbekistan Airways (or another carrier with a lounge agreement) can pay to enter: UZS1mn ($84) for a three-hour pass.
