British Airways has boosted its international premium footprint with the opening of two new lounges at airports located outside of its homeland in the United Kingdom. These are located in the United States at Miami International Airport (MIA) and the UAE at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Miami and Dubai are among the top international destinations for 
British Airways, with both being served by its largest long-haul widebody aircraft, the Airbus A380. As such, this investment, which has seen Miami become the home of the largest BA-only lounge outside of London, underlines the importance of these locations, with the carrier drawing on both local themes and British twists in the lounges.
Open For Business
The aesthetics of the new British Airways lounge in Dubai, as pictured above, are inspired by “fretwork patterning and architecture in the United Arab Emirates.” The facility, which covers a surface area of almost 5,800 square feet (538.84 square meters), is home to “full-service bars as focal points, menus that champion local ingredients with a British twist, as well as the exclusive Concorde Dining Rooms.”
Premium passengers and elite status holders can find the new lounge in Terminal 1 at 
Dubai International Airport, with its self-serve dining options “including an Arabic breakfast, mezze selection, cakes, and cheeseboard.” The UK flag carrier and oneworld founding member teamed up with Al Tayer Stocks to turn its vision into a reality, with Calum Laming, the Chief Customer Officer at British Airways, explaining:
“These unique spaces (…) are the next step in our extensive lounge transformation plan. Whether they’re looking to relax, dine, work, or enjoy a drink at the fully staffed bar, there’s something for everyone.”
Gateside Convenience
The Miami lounge is even larger, at 13,000 square feet (1,207.74 square meters), making it the largest outside London that only BA operates. Its location offers utmost convenience, being located directly above BA’s departure gate in Terminal E, and has been brought to life by contractors such as TGA Consulting, Nunez Construction, and Bermello & Ajamil Architects, all of whom are based in Miami itself.
As far as the facility’s aesthetics are concerned, BA describes its new Miami lounge as “a celebration of the airline’s British originality, charm and wit,” adding that it also blends in “features that have taken inspiration from the city, such as its Art Deco design and iconic buildings.” With ‘sweeping’ airfield views, guests can enjoy drinks with a view as they wait for their long flight back across the North Atlantic Ocean.
The drinks in question are diverse, and, as well as including local ale, the menu also features a lounge-specific cocktail known as a Prickly Margarita. The facility consists of five distinct zones, with those looking to indulge in food being offered “locally-sourced dishes that champion seasonal Miami produce with a British twist.” It also features a Concorde Dining Room for passengers traveling in BA’s first class cabin.
Examining BA’s Dubai & Miami Schedules
As previously mentioned, Dubai International Airport is a key long-haul destination for BA, with Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, showing that the carrier is operating thrice-daily round trips from its main hub at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) this month. These use aircraft from the Airbus A380, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliner’ families, with one daytime departure and two overnight flights every day.
As for Miami International Airport, this Florida hub is solely served by the Airbus A380 as far as BA’s flights to and from London are concerned. Currently, these services operate on a daily basis, but, as of October 26, they will increase to twice-daily, as the IATA Winter Schedule kicks off.
According to data made available by aeroLOPA, BA’s A380s have a grand total of 469 seats onboard. At the premium end of the scale, this four-class layout includes 14 first class suites at the front of the lower deck, 97 Club World business class flatbeds (44 on the lower deck and 53 on the upper deck). There are also 55 World Traveller Plus premium economy recliners and 303 World Traveller economy seats.
