London Heathrow will be the first to showcase the airline’s new Beyond Borders design
Etihad Airways is taking its premium airport experience to the next level, with a brand-new look and feel coming to its lounges around the world.
The first to get the full treatment will be the Etihad Lounge at London Heathrow, which is set to reopen in summer 2027 with a completely transformed design.
And this isn’t just a fresh coat of paint. The Heathrow lounge will be the first to introduce Etihad’s new Beyond Borders design language on the ground, creating a stronger visual link between the airline’s lounges, aircraft and the wider guest experience.
The new design has been created in Abu Dhabi and takes inspiration from the idea of “from sand to superstructure”, reflecting the emirate’s natural landscape, architecture and incredible transformation.
That means expect a mix of materials, textures, lighting and distinctive design details inspired by Abu Dhabi, rather than a generic luxury-lounge look.
The idea isn’t for every Etihad lounge to look exactly the same, either. Instead, the airline wants guests to spot familiar Etihad touches wherever they are in their journey, while each lounge still has its own character and reflects its location.
The revamped London lounge will be the first complete showcase of the new design, but it won’t be the last.
Etihad says the concept will gradually be introduced across new lounges around its global network, creating what the airline describes as a new generation of premium gateways into the Etihad experience.
Each lounge will include dedicated areas for Business and First Class guests, as well as private suites for passengers travelling in The Residence.
So, whether you’re grabbing a coffee before a flight, settling in for dinner or looking for somewhere a little quieter before take-off, the aim is to make the time on the ground feel like part of the journey rather than simply time spent waiting at the airport.
The lounge revamp is part of Etihad’s wider Beyond Borders product and experience programme, which is designed to create a more connected feel across everything from its aircraft and lounges to dining, wellbeing, connectivity and service.
Etihad is investing US$20 billion in new aircraft and customer experience, including a US$1 billion fleet retrofit programme.
The airline has already given passengers a glimpse of where things are heading, with its new A330 cabin making its world debut at Arabian Travel Market, alongside the new Beyond Borders design showcased on its A321LR.
Now, that same design language is heading to the ground.
And while London will be the first stop, Etihad says further lounge developments are planned as the new look and experience gradually make their way across the network.
So the next time you fly Etihad, the journey could start looking a lot more Abu Dhabi, before you’ve even boarded the plane.
