Virgin Atlantic has today (May 1) unveiled its brand new £2.5m (US$3.8m) Clubhouse, located in Terminal 2 (T2) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Set within a relaxing space overlooking the Hollywood Hills, the new 4,000ft2 lounge will be the first time that the airline has brought its award-winning Clubhouse concept to LA.
The new airside space, which has been designed by Slade Architecture in collaboration with the Virgin Atlantic in-house design team, takes its design cues from the west coast landscape, with accents of gold to reflect the famous LA sunshine. The walls are adorned with one-of-a-kind artwork, including an installation by California-based digital artist Diana Reichenbach, whose work is shown alongside a hand drawn mural from British artist Vic Lee.
The centerpiece of the lounge is a copper lined bar, featuring natural Californian produce and plants as well as Virgin Atlantic’s iconic bar service. The food and drink concept allows customers to taste and share several dishes, creating a relaxed, sociable atmosphere. Working in collaboration with Hinoki & the Bird, one of LA’s most exciting and innovative restaurants, Virgin Atlantic has created a travel inspired menu that capitalizes on the local produce available throughout California. Entry into the Clubhouse is complimentary for Upper Class passengers traveling between London Heathrow Airport and LAX.
Reuben Arnold, brand and customer engagement director, Virgin Atlantic, said, “Los Angeles was the natural choice for our next Clubhouse investment. It is such an important route for us – we have been flying there for 25 years this year. Our Clubhouses have always set the standard for airport lounges in terms of experience, service and design and we are delighted to bring our ultimate pre-flight experience to our customers traveling through Los Angeles.”
“Los Angeles is a key route for us and we are always thinking what our customers need when they are flying transatlantic. The investment in LAX will also include a refreshed check-in area as well as the introduction of a meet-and-greet chauffeur drop-off service.
“Furthermore our brand new 787s will be on the route from May, and together with the increased connectivity as part of our joint venture with Delta, we’re able to offer our customers the best possible experience when flying between London and Los Angeles.”