Dubai, Emirates, launched an airport lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) costing $4 million.

The opening was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mohammed Mattar, Divisional Senior Vice President Airport Services, Jim Baxter, Emirates’ Vice President of USA, Central America & Caribbean and Herman Wai, Airport Services Manager SFO.
 
“Emirates’ customers have come to rely on our superior service both in the air and on the ground,” Mattar said .  “We are proud to bring our award winning lounge product and our trademark hospitality and service to San Francisco with the opening of the Emirates Lounge at SFO.”
 
“With complimentary chauffeur drive service to and from the airport for first and business class travelers, customers in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and San Francisco can now look forward to a seamless and stress-free experience from the start to the finish of their journey,” Mattar added .
 
The Emirates Lounge at SFO is configured to seat up to 130 first and business class passengers, and Skywards Gold members traveling from San Francisco to Dubai.

“We will continue to expand our relationship with San Francisco,” said Baxter. “The opening of the Emirates Lounge at SFO just months after the announcement of our multi-year sponsorship of the San Francisco Symphony, represents a further strengthening of our commitment to the Bay Area.”
 
"Since commencing SFO service in December 2008, Emirates has realized strong market growth," said Airport Director John L. Martin.  "In 2011, Emirates' passenger traffic grew by 56 per cent compared to its first full year of operation in 2009.  Emirates' presence in our community, and its role in connecting the Bay Area - including Silicon Valley - with India, Africa and other points across the Middle East supports business development between the two regions while bringing more jobs to the local aviation community."
 
With the opening of the new Lounge in SFO, Emirates now operates 30 dedicated lounges around its six-continent network including lounges in Auckland, Bangkok, Beijing, Birmingham, Brisbane, four lounges in Dubai, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester, Munich, Melbourne, Mumbai, New York - JFK, Paris - Charles de Gaulle, Perth, Singapore, Sydney, Shanghai and Zurich.

Source: Emirates