British Airways has confirmed it will begin a full-scale redevelopment of its lounges at London Heathrow in 2026 — a long-awaited overhaul that forms part of its global lounge redesign programme, revealed this week with the opening of the airline’s new Miami lounge.
The Heathrow project, which was first teased in early 2025, promises “transformational change” across the airline’s flagship base. The announcement coincides with the debut of BA’s new worldwide lounge aesthetic — a modern, calm, and residential-inspired design that has already received praise from frequent flyers and design critics alike.
Although British Airways has yet to release detailed renderings for Heathrow, the redesign is expected to reimagine both Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 lounges — including possible changes to size, layout, and guest eligibility.
The airline says the upcoming overhaul will go far beyond a cosmetic update. Insiders suggest BA could reorganise its lounge footprint entirely, consolidating certain spaces and improving the flow between business, first class, and elite-tier areas.
British Airways originally planned a major Heathrow lounge renovation in 2020, but the pandemic forced those plans to be shelved. The delay, however, may have been beneficial: the carrier’s new global design concept — launched first in Miami — sets a higher benchmark for comfort, privacy, and technology integration.
If the same look and feel is applied to Heathrow, passengers can expect richer textures, improved lighting, expanded dining areas, and greater use of British art and craftsmanship — all hallmarks of the new BA style.
“Transformational changes” is quite the promise, and it suggests more than just new upholstery,” noted one frequent flyer. “Hopefully, that means everything from better bathrooms to rethought service zones.”
Eight lounges, four access tiers — and a lot of construction
BA’s Heathrow footprint is vast. Across Terminal 5 alone, the airline operates:
• The Concorde Room, for British Airways First Class passengers.
• The Galleries First Lounge, for oneworld Emerald members.
• Three Galleries Club Lounges, serving business class passengers and Sapphire members (North, South, and 5B).
• Plus the Arrivals Lounge, used by passengers landing into Heathrow.
In Terminal 3, there are two more — a Galleries First Lounge and a Galleries Club Lounge.
That means BA currently runs eight lounges at Heathrow, with four different sets of entry criteria, creating a complex network of spaces that can confuse infrequent travellers.
Renovations on this scale could therefore take several years — and mean reduced capacity during construction. Frequent flyers are bracing for disruption, but most agree the work is long overdue.
Could the Concorde Room finally soar again?
Perhaps the most intriguing speculation surrounds the Concorde Room, British Airways’ most exclusive lounge. Despite its heritage and name, the space has often been criticised for failing to match the elite ground experiences offered by rivals such as Air France La Première, Lufthansa First Class Terminal, or SWISS First Lounge Zurich.
With BA hinting at a “transformational” approach, industry watchers are hopeful the airline may finally elevate the Concorde Room into a truly world-class experience — with dedicated concierge areas, enhanced dining, and better privacy.
“British Airways’ first-class product is strong in the air, but on the ground it’s fallen behind,” one aviation analyst told Business Traveller. “This overhaul could finally close that gap.”
BA has yet to confirm how long the works will take or which lounges will be upgraded first. More details are expected later in 2025, once the design team finalises plans.
For now, travellers can expect Heathrow’s 2026 renovation to mirror the new Miami concept — sleek, understated, and designed around wellbeing and seamless connectivity.
With eight lounges serving tens of thousands of passengers daily, the task ahead is enormous. But for an airline that calls Heathrow home, the transformation could redefine the premium travel experience for a new generation of flyers.