Virgin Atlantic launches website at www.terminalsix.co.uk and say new terminal is now open for business

Virgin Atlantic today moved into its fast and efficient new terminal at Heathrow - and immediately proclaimed it Terminal 6. The opening, by The Spice Girls and Sir Richard Branson, took place months before BA switches its flights to Terminal 5.

Virgin Atlantic's Terminal 6, which can also be seen online at www.terminalsix.co.uk, will give millions of passengers a seamless and simple journey through the airport.

They will benefit from short journeys between check-in and their security checks, and walk through a much smaller and state-of-the-art terminal than the giant Terminal 5. The new Virgin Atlantic Terminal is much quicker to get to, from central London by car and Heathrow Express, than Terminal 5.

Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

“We've been secretly working on our plans for Terminal 6 for two years and are delighted that we can now show other airlines how check-in should be. Our new terminal is fast, efficient and seamless, and enables our business passengers to check-in from limo to lounge in just six minutes. Today's opening signals the rebirth of Heathrow Airport - and it's happening months before BA switch their flights to the giant Terminal 5."

Virgin Atlantic's business class check in, the Upper Class Wing, boasts the fastest Check In in the world making it possible to transfer from limo to lounge in minutes, partly due to a dedicated security corridor.

Premium Economy and Economy passengers benefit from a brand new Check In area which is wider, brighter and more spacious, enabling passengers to check-in at kiosks in a fast, efficient and stress-free way. Virgin Atlantic expects 80% of its passengers at Heathrow to be using Online or Kiosk Check-In by the end of 2008.

The new terminal was officially opened by the Spice Girls, who flew back into the UK today for the UK leg of their tour. The girls also named a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 “Spice One” yesterday in their honour.

Virgin Atlantic’s new terminal facility will handle over 60,000 passengers every week and around three million passengers in the next year alone. Virgin Atlantic’s terminal was designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Virgin Atlantic’s in-house design team.

17 December 2007