First on the ground and in the air

British Airways has re-opened its First class lounge at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 for premium passengers ensuring unrivalled comfort and luxury on the ground and in the air .

It follows the launch earlier this year of the new First class cabin on longhaul aircraft, created by leading British interior designer, Kelly Hoppen.

A new Concorde Room also has opened in the airline’s Lounge Pavilion at Terminal 4, Heathrow, designed by Sir Terence Conran, in anticipation of a resumption of supersonic services later this spring.

The First lounge, created by FutureBrand, offers an environment that is elegant, calm and welcoming, a home-from-home space that features deep, luxurious furniture in rich velvets and classic tailored herringbone. Tan leather recliners and vast sofas in burnt plum are offset by light reflective linen textured wallpaper.

Dark bronze curtains contrast with pale honey carpeting bordered in slate grey and blue. The ‘heartland’ of the new lounge is an area of calm and space. Low square coffee tables front onto a wall of limestone, illuminating tall arrangements of bamboo and exotic leaves.

Mocha stained oak and stainless steel mesh screens offer privacy and a secluded place to work or relax. This theme continues into rich rosewood veneers and bronze, framing the wine bar and cappuccino bar.

A new menu offering customers the freedom to either help themselves or be served anywhere in the lounge with warm breads and danish pastries in the morning to fresh soup and roasted vegetable salsa and freshly prepared sandwiches throughout the day.

Martin George, British Airways Director of Marketing said: “ With the opening of our new lounge British Airways has to be first choice in the air and on the ground for luxury and privacy.”

Interrelated forms and colour from Yoko Shiraishi, graphic line and edge from Nigel Hall and detailed pigmented prints by Mark Quinn bring themes together.

David Craven, Alan Green and Lolly Batty’s use of simplicity and abstraction complement the space.

State-of-the-art washrooms, with Philippe Starck fittings, give direct access to the new Molton Brown spa with shower rooms, steam rooms and massage due to be opened in March.

The dedicated business suite offers fast free email and Internet access, with printers, copiers, free fax, free local telephone calls and credit card pay phones.