Plaza Premium Reveals Major Global Expansion Plans

Plaza Premium Group Deputy CEO Bora İşbulan shared details of the company’s global growth strategy in an exclusive interview with AirwayBuzz, outlining major expansion plans across the United States, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

İşbulan said Plaza Premium is establishing a partnership with Lagardère as part of its US expansion. Under the new structure, the company is expected to offer nearly 40 lounge services across approximately 30 US airports by January 2027, a move İşbulan said would make Plaza Premium the largest lounge operator in the country. Lagardère’s MiNiBAR concept will also be transformed into a model combining food and beverage services with lounge access. Plaza Premium is also making a major investment at New Terminal One at New York JFK Airport.

The group is expanding its VIP terminal business as well. Plaza Premium already operates its Diamond Lounge VIP concept in Abu Dhabi, is establishing a new company in the United States for VIP terminal operations, and is investing around $40 million in a new VIP terminal project at Singapore Changi Airport. Another VIP terminal project in Macau is expected to open by the end of 2026.

İşbulan said Plaza Premium continues to grow in Canada, while Tanzania is joining the network and Zambia is expected to follow. In Egypt, the company operates seven lounges alongside meet-and-assist and VIP services and has also developed Cairo International Airport’s mobile application. Saudi Arabia remains one of its largest markets, with more than 40 lounges across 27 airports. Growth is also continuing in India and China, while Plaza Premium is preparing to open its first own lounge in Bangkok.

The company’s Smart Traveller platform is approaching 4 million members, with annual growth of around 25 to 30 percent and users from approximately 70 to 80 countries.

İşbulan also said Plaza Premium is increasingly segmenting larger lounges into Plaza Premium Lounge and Plaza Premium First concepts, with PPF offering more personalised and à la carte services for First Class and airline passengers.