British Airways has unveiled the latest feature of its new home Terminal 5 – a luxurious complex of six lounges covering 15,000 square feet and based on the look and feel of a modern boutique hotel.
The lounges or ‘galleries’ complex is the largest and most luxurious in the world for the exclusive use of up to 2,500 British Airways premium passengers and top tier members of the oneworld alliance’s frequent flyer schemes.
The ‘galleries’ feature Swarovski chandeliers and furnishings by Osborne & Little, fabulous Elemis spas and an arrivals lounge with 94 Hansgrohe shower rooms. There are also private cabanas that can be pre-booked by First class passengers.
Artwork commissioned from Christopher Pearson, Troika and Oona Culley are displayed, curated by Susi Allen of Artwise, formerly of the Royal College of Art.
Work and entertainment zones are also available with wi-fi and meeting rooms. Even the youngest passengers are catered for with a dedicated ‘Kidzone’ room designed by El Ultimo Grito with interactive furnishings, a magnetic wall and toys.
There are 112 shopping and eating outlets at the terminal. The shops, including designer brands and high street names, are modelled on their flagship stores and customers can choose from a range of restaurants such as Gordon Ramsey’s Plane Food and Giraffe.
The £4.3 billion terminal, the size of 50 football pitches offers space, luxury and calm and an effortless travel experience for its customers. The logical design of the building, online and kiosk check-in, plus 96 fast bag drop desks will speed and simplify the process through the terminal.
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From arrival at the airport to the departure area will take just ten minutes. Out of sight but very much an essential part of the terminal is a state of the art baggage system capable of handling 12,000 bags per hour.
Robert Boyle, British Airways’ commercial director, said: “Terminal 5 will be a fantastic experience for our customers and a stunning showcase for UK PLC. It is a truly modern, iconic building with facilities like our fabulous suite of lounges, which will make travelling a pleasure again and not a chore. Our people are determined it will be a national success story Britain can be proud of.”
