For the second year running, Virgin Atlantic has won the Best Business Class Lounge Award in the SkyTrax World Airline Awards 2008, for its flagship clubhouse at Heathrow Airport.


The World Airline Awards are based on the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax and are recognised around the world. Virgin Atlantic beat off BA’s new T5 lounge, Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong business class lounge and Qatar Airways’ business class lounge to win the prestigious award.


Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic said, “We’re thrilled that our Heathrow Clubhouse has been chosen as the world’s best haven for business travellers for the second year running.  This confirms that our Clubhouse is a real winner with our Upper Class passengers and with our new private security corridor they can now get through to it in record time!  Thank you to everyone who voted for us.”


The airline’s Clubhouse at Heathrow provides a pre-flight experience for every passenger with an array of services. Passengers can can get a haircut in the salon Bumble and Bumble; use a spa pool or sauna; choose from a range of Cowshed treatments; play pool in the Den; watch movies; sample cocktails at the 14 m long bar; and choose from the extensive brasserie  menu. The $20 m flagship lounge, which is over 2,500 sq m in total, was created by the Virgin Atlantic design team and the London based architectural practice Softroom, who created the interior’ design to feel like a private members’ club.