Virgin Atlantic Opens Its First Airport Lounge at London Gatwick

In May 1990, we opened our first airport lounge at London Gatwick, introducing a dedicated pre-flight space for Upper Class passengers. The opening coincided with the launch of our new Los Angeles service and extended our approach to premium customer service beyond the aircraft cabin. For the first time, eligible passengers could spend time in a Virgin Atlantic lounge before departure, away from the main airport terminal. The lounge provided a more comfortable and private environment for passengers preparing for long-haul flights. Its introduction reflected our aim to make the overall travel experience more enjoyable, recognising that the time spent at the airport was an important part of the journey. It also complemented other Upper Class improvements introduced during 1990, including inflight beauty therapy. The Gatwick lounge established our first dedicated airport hospitality offering and provided a starting point for the development of our premium ground services. The concept later evolved into the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse experience, with the first Clubhouse-branded lounge at Gatwick opening in September 1998.