A seating area is photographed at the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Seating offers a view of planes taxing to gates at the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Yam Pang lounge agent organizes utensils and tableware in preparation of the opening of the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Michael Henning head of lounge operations points out the deli area of the new Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

A seating area is photographed at the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)



Monitors display departing flight as workers organize utensils and tableware in preparation of the opening of the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Clocks display times from New York, London and Stockholm at the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

Evelyn Sam lounge supervisor looks over paperwork in preparation of the opening of the Escape Lounge at the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND — As Oakland International Airport continues to see passenger traffic soar, it is investing in an upgrade to its passenger amenities.

This month, the airport will open its first luxury lounge area for visitors. For a $45 fee, passengers flying on any airline can enter the Escape Lounge, which offers seating, internet access and access to unlimited food and beverage from a food program led by Oakland chef Chris Pastena.

Pastena, who owns popular Oakland restaurants Lungomare, Chop Bar and the more recently opened Calavera, will offer a buffet of items for lounge visitors, who will be able to eat and drink an unlimited amount with their entry fee.

According to Pastena, the menu will offer egg dishes, croissants, scones, muffins and pancakes, along with locally made yogurts. Non-breakfast items will include things such as sliders and salads.

Like his existing restaurants, Pastena will aim to offer high-quality, locally sourced ingredients in an effort to put Oakland’s food culture on display, he said.

“I find myself very lucky. … It’s an honor to represent the local (food scene) in this way,” Pastena said.

Anthony Tangorra, the vice president of commercial for developer MAG USA, which Oakland Airport has tapped to create the Escape Lounge, said the high number of passengers through the East Bay airport demands an amenity like the lounge. While other airports have lounges run by airlines, such as United Airlines’ lounge (available only to those flying with United Airlines) at San Francisco International Airport, Oakland has no such space.

MAG has one Escape Lounge in Minneapolis and is opening a third in Hartford, Connecticut, in addition to a handful in the United Kingdom.

“We’re excited about the development that’s been happening (at the airport),” Tangorra said. “With the new traffic coming in, we think it offers an opportunity for us to serve the longer-haul fliers.”

The airport is working on a $35 million expansion to its international arrivals building that will double international flight capacity. There is also an ongoing $200 million renovation of Terminal 1, which was started in 2008 to update and modernize the airport.

It has been boosted by an increase in international travel to and from the airport. British Airways will soon become the second carrier to provide nonstop flights from Oakland to London, after Norwegian Air launched direct flights to London Gatwick from Oakland in September. The airport and Norwegian Air also recently announced new service to Copenhagen and Barcelona, the airline’s fourth and fifth European destinations from the Oakland Airport, and the Bay Area’s only nonstop flight to Spain.

September marked the airport’s 34th consecutive month of passenger traffic growth, with a 9.6 percent increase over the same period in 2015. More than 1 million passengers came through the airport in September.