Etihad to roll out revamped airport lounges from summer 2027

Etihad Airways has set out plans for a new generation of its airport lounges, with the first to open at London-Heathrow in summer 2027. The airline announced the programme on September 16, 2026, during the Arabian Travel Market trade show in Dubai.

The work falls under Etihad's "Beyond Borders" initiative, which the carrier describes as a broad programme to strengthen the value proposition and experience it offers passengers. The Heathrow lounge will be the first of the revamped facilities and serves the airline's flagship European destination. Few design details have been disclosed, beyond the intention that the look and visual language will match the wider Beyond Borders themes.

The airline said the new lounge will have a bar at its centre and separate dedicated areas for business class and first class passengers. Travellers booked in The Residence suites will have an exclusive lounge section of their own.

The announcement follows Etihad's closure of its Heathrow lounge in Terminal 4 in early September 2026 for renovations that were not specified. Premium passengers have been using Gulf Air's Falcon Gold lounge at the same terminal in the interim. The Heathrow lounge is expected to reopen in summer 2027.

After London, Etihad intends to renovate lounges at other destinations to bring them to the same standard and keep the passenger experience consistent. No specific timeline for those further renovations has been given.

The Beyond Borders programme also covers the introduction of new cabins across the airline's A330 and A321LR fleet.