Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has moved into a new home at London Heathrow – switching its three daily flight departures to Abu Dhabi from Terminal Three to Terminal Four.
To coincide with the move, which took place on Wednesday, 30 September, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has opened a new lounge for its premium customers conveniently situated opposite the gates Etihad Airways will most commonly use for flight departures.
To celebrate the move Dannii Minogue, a judge from the hit television show X-Factor, welcomed the first Etihad passengers personally and chatted with them at length as they checked in for their flight at the airline’s new dedicated check-in facilities.
Dannii also met the first Etihad customers to use the new premium lounge, the airline’s second outstation lounge after the one recently opened in Frankfurt and which features a modern timber panelled business centre that provides workstations with WiFi and privacy for those with laptops.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s chief commercial officer, said: “The new Etihad check-in facilities and lounge are among the best available at London Heathrow. Passengers will now receive world-class service from the moment they enter the terminal through to their flight with Etihad to more than 55 destinations around the world. Etihad is committed to delivering the best airline experience in the world and we look forward to welcoming our customers to our new Heathrow home at Terminal Four.”
Colin Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow, said: “We are delighted to see Etihad Airways settle in Terminal 4. We are investing £200 million at Terminal 4, rebuilding many parts of the terminal, providing passengers with a new, modern airport building that offers improved facilities and higher standards of service.”
There are individual treatment rooms where therapists from Six Senses Spa offer passengers facials, and foot and leg massages. The lounge also boasts five-star dining facilities with a selection of foods from around the world, all cooked in an open kitchen.
Other features of the lounge include a prayer room, a relaxing seating area with Poltrona Frau leather chairs and bathroom and shower facilities.
Etihad Airways’ move to Terminal Four is part of a multi-million pound investment by BAA that will see new shops and facilities and an increased level of comfort for passengers using the terminal.
Etihad Airways also provides a complimentary limousine service for its first and business class passengers flying in and out of London Heathrow. First class customers flying from to and London Heathrow are the first to take advantage of the airline’s market leading first class suite that entered into service between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow in August.
The new private suite provides first class customers with an extra-large leather seat, upholstered by world-renowned leather company Poltrona Frau, which extends to a fully-flat bed, 80.5 inches in length. Within the cabin customers also have access to a large and luxurious changing room with a full length mirror, wash basin and leather fold-down seat to allow passengers to freshen up at any time during the flight.
