Video game lounge opens in LAX’s Terminal 6

According to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), travellers at LAX may start arriving even earlier now that they can play their favourite video games while waiting for flights.

Its bold prediction follows the opening of Gameway, a premium video game lounge, in Terminal 6.

Working in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), LAWA is confident that the new facility will offer new experiences and categories that enhance and diversify the guest experience.

“As consumer trends continue to shift towards experiences, we know the value of providing our customers with new ways to enjoy their LAX journey,” said Maral Matossian, URW’s general manager for LAX.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gameway, an innovative women-owned small business, to our LAX line-up.”

Gameway offers gaming stations with the newest technology, leather lounge or gaming chairs and premium Razer gaming headphones.

Each guest station comes equipped with either an Xbox, Playstation, or Razer gaming PC with over 30 preloaded games, including popular titles like Fortnite, FIFA, NBA2K, Madden, Call of Duty, Minecraft, Rocket League, and many more.

The concept was developed and brought to airports by husband-and-wife team Jordan and Emma Walbridge, co-founders and owners of Gameway, which also has an operations at DFW and plans opening new locations in Charlotte (CLT) and Houston Hobby (HOU) later this year.

“We want to revolutionise customer experience at airports,” said Emma Walbridge.

“Airports can be a pretty boring place, so we wanted something fun and entertaining to offer travellers. They can come and play video games while they wait for their flight to make the time go by quickly.”

Walbridge credits much of their success to being an Airports Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) business owner.

She learned about the programme during an airport conference and knew it would be pivotal to helping them grow.

“Being an ACDBE really helps you get your foot in the door,” Walbridge said. “The resources available are key to helping businesses succeed.”