ANA's First and Business Class departure lounges in the new South Wing of Narita Airport's Terminal 1, which received a Good Design Award last month, started to offer customers an automated currency exchange facility from November 8.

Based on the concept of 'Japanese Modern Comfort', and covering a combined area of 6,000m2 in Satellites 4 and 5, the elegantly Japanese lounges, which opened in June this year, were highly rated in the Architecture and Environment Design category of Japan's 2006 Good Design Awards. With amenities such as showers, noodle bar, sake bar and a therapeutic 'REFRESH salon', as well as computers, business facilities and wireless internet, they were singled out for their quality, functionality and layout.

To further add to the functional appeal of the lounges and provide greater amenity to customers, ANA has collaborated with Japan's Mizuho Bank* to provide an automated currency exchange service in each of the four lounges - two First Class and two Business Class. This is the first service of its kind in a Japanese airline lounge, and will offer exchange from yen into US dollars, euro and yuan.

As ANA is a member of Star Alliance, Star Alliance Gold Members as well as First and Business Class passengers of any Star Alliance member carrier may use these award winning lounges, and access the new currency exchange facility.

"We are delighted to work with ANA and reach out to the premium customers of ANA and Star Alliance. We hope they will find the currency exchange an innovative and valuable service, and one that makes their journey from Japan a little easier and more convenient," said Takashi Nonaka, Managing Director, Head of Consumer and Private Banking Group, Mizuho Bank.

ANA's Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales, Shinichiro Ito added, "Our lounges were designed to cater to a variety of needs and give customers the chance to spend time as they wish prior to take off - relaxing, working, or enjoying some the signature food and drink on offer. Now, thanks to this tie-up with Mizuho Bank, they can also carry out the important and often indispensable task of changing currency in the comfort of these award-winning spaces."

ANA first teamed-up with Mizuho Bank in February, 2005, when they linked mileage programmes. The provision of the currency exchange service is another step in their strategic alliance as they explore ways to combine their expertise to further benefit customers.

* Narita Airport Group company, Green Port Agency, will provide the currency exchange service on behalf of Mizuho Bank.