Australia’s busiest gateway is going all-in on well-being with the addition of a barber, gym, and nail salon at its international arrivals terminal (T1), tapping into a growing interest in pampering and fitness while on the move.

In what it describes as an Australian airport first, Sydney Airport says the new units will “redefine the international arrivals experience.” Retail General Manager Gail Taylor said, “We know that after a long flight, people want things to feel simple and seamless. Whether you’re arriving in Sydney for the first time or coming home, our focus is on making the experience smoother and more enjoyable.”

By placing the new services on the arrivals side, the barber, gym and nail salon will be available to all travelers—whose numbers reached 42.5 million in 2025, up by 2.7%—as well as meeters and greeters, airport staff, and any other members of the public.

To date, only the Barber’s Lounge has opened at T1. It provides premium grooming services ranging from expert haircuts and beard trims to quick refreshes for time-pressed passengers before or after their flights. Omar Choukchouk, owner of the business, commented, “Arriving after a long flight often means heading straight into meetings, events, or home life. We give travelers the opportunity to refresh and feel their best as soon as they land. We’re proud to be part of a new era of service-led experiences at the airport.”

One Open, Two on the Way

Anytime Fitness, which has more than 720,000 members in Australia, is expected to open soon and become the country’s first airport-based gym. Spanning 300 square meters (3,229 square feet), the club will offer flexible fitness options suited to both travelers and airport staff, including activities to lessen the effects of jet lag and improve sleep after long-haul travel, or demanding shifts.

Among the club’s features will be 24/7 access for early departures or late arrivals, functional training zones, two lifting platforms, and premium showers and amenities. Simon Thompson, Managing Director of Anytime Fitness Australia, said the airport opening “represents a significant milestone for our brand and the broader fitness industry by setting a new benchmark for convenience-led fitness.”

By the end of Q3, ProfessioNail—founded in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1992 and now operating hundreds of locations across Australia and New Zealand—will make its airport debut. The salon will offer professional beauty services from express manicures to nail care for anyone in a hurry.

Sydney Airport’s Taylor said, “We’re continuing to evolve our retail mix to better match how people travel today, with practical solutions and spaces that genuinely add value. It’s all about creating a more connected, customer-focused experience that helps travelers feel ready for whatever comes next.”

Services and Experiences Step Up

Service-led offerings have been taking off in airports in recent years as operators look to improve their customer service (ASQ) scores. Beauty is the product category where this can be done to best effect while also leveraging extra spending.

As well as dedicated retailers like Be Relax, which has 40 spas spread across airports globally, or US-based XpresSpa, which has just moved beyond airports to New York City’s Penn Station with its wellness offer, brands have been using pop-ups or fixed units in travel locations to allow consumers to test their products and services in calmer, relaxed surroundings. 

For example, last summer L’Occitane ran its largest ever travel retail campaign at 350 global airports to highlight Body Badalada, a vitamin-infused lotion delivering 24-hour hydration from the Sol de Janeiro stable. Key to the activations were full-sensory experiences including hand massages, glitter makeup bars, interactive photo booths, and selfie stations.

Meanwhile, at Qatar’s Hamad International Airport, Dior’s first airport spa is a top-level luxury beauty retreat on two floors and accessible directly from one of the business lounges. Here service is amplified through pre-treatment teas, indulgent multiproduct routines, and tech innovations including cryotherapy, sapphire crystal microdermabrasion, and LED therapies.