Air France is set to bring a distinctly French twist to London Heathrow Airport, with the airline confirming it will open a brand-new lounge complete with a spa in Terminal 4 in spring 2026. The move strengthens Air France’s premium footprint in one of the world’s most competitive aviation markets and promises a significant upgrade for SkyTeam travelers currently relying on third‑party facilities at the airport.

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Flagship-Style Lounge Coming To Heathrow Terminal 4

Announced on December 11, 2025, the new Air France lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4 will span more than 750 square meters (about 8,070 square feet) and is designed to accommodate approximately 150 guests at a time. The carrier describes the space as an exclusive haven that showcases its “French art of hospitality,” bringing many of the hallmarks of its Paris hubs to London.

Positioned airside in Terminal 4, the lounge will primarily support Air France’s up to seven daily services between London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle during the winter 2025–26 season, as well as broader SkyTeam and codeshare operations. The opening is timed to align with a broader UK expansion that also includes new services from Paris to London Gatwick from March 29, 2026, underlining the importance of the London market within the airline’s medium‑haul network.

For Air France, this is more than just another outstation lounge. Heathrow is the home hub of British Airways and a global showcase for premium travel. By investing in its own branded facility at Terminal 4, the French carrier is positioning itself to compete directly for high‑yield passengers departing from the UK capital, while offering stronger brand consistency to loyal customers accustomed to Air France’s Paris lounges.

Spa, Dining And Workspaces: What Travelers Can Expect

The headline feature of the new Heathrow lounge will be its spa and dedicated relaxation areas — amenities still relatively rare in non‑hub lounges. While specific partners and treatment menus have yet to be announced, the airline is expected to follow the wellness‑focused approach seen in its Paris Charles de Gaulle and New York JFK lounges, where short complimentary treatments and quiet relaxation zones are a core part of the experience.

Culinary offerings will play to Air France’s strengths. The Heathrow lounge will feature a central dining area with a buffet showcasing French‑inspired cuisine and a bar serving a curated list of French wines and champagnes. Air France has invested heavily in elevating the food and beverage experience across its network in recent years, emphasizing seasonal ingredients and French regional specialties, and the Heathrow outpost is set to reflect that same philosophy.

Business travelers will be catered for with dedicated workspaces, including desks, power points and quieter corners suited to calls or last‑minute emails before departure. The layout is being designed by SGK Brandimage — the agency behind several of Air France’s recent lounge refurbishments in Paris — suggesting an emphasis on clear zoning between dining, working and resting spaces, as well as a modern aesthetic that blends the airline’s red‑white‑and‑blue identity with warmer wood and metallic tones.

Who Will Have Access To The New Lounge?

Air France has confirmed that access will follow standard SkyTeam lounge access rules. That means the facility will be open to Air France and KLM Business Class passengers departing from Heathrow Terminal 4, as well as SkyTeam airline customers traveling in first or business class. Eligible SkyTeam Elite Plus members flying in any cabin will also be able to use the lounge.

For Air France specifically, the lounge will be available to La Première (first class) and Business Class passengers, along with Flying Blue Elite Plus members. While the airline has not yet detailed any separate La Première enclave or escort services at Heathrow, its history of offering tailored perks to top‑tier customers in Paris suggests that enhanced services or reserved zones could be introduced as the opening date approaches.

The lounge will also serve eligible premium customers and top‑tier frequent flyers traveling on SkyTeam partners operating from Terminal 4. In practice, this is likely to include carriers such as Saudia and others within the alliance that use the terminal, making the lounge a key premium asset for SkyTeam’s presence at Heathrow.

From Plaza Premium To A Fully Branded Air France Space

Currently, Air France’s premium passengers departing from Heathrow Terminal 4 are directed to the Plaza Premium Lounge, a well‑regarded yet shared third‑party space. With the opening of its own dedicated facility, Air France will gain full control over the ground experience its customers receive from the moment they clear security to boarding.

The move will mark a return of sorts to a larger SkyTeam‑branded footprint in Terminal 4. In previous years, the terminal hosted a substantial two‑level SkyTeam lounge, but that space was later split and reconfigured into a Plaza Premium Lounge on one level and a Saudia‑branded lounge on another. Air France has not specified which exact footprint its new lounge will occupy within Terminal 4, prompting speculation among frequent flyers about whether an existing lounge site will be repurposed or an entirely new configuration introduced.

What is clear is that the new facility will be tailored specifically to Air France’s design language and service standards. That will differentiate it from generic contract lounges and allow the airline to deliver curated touches, such as a signature scent, brand‑specific art and heritage references, and potentially partner spa concepts that align with its Paris lounges.

Why Heathrow Matters So Much To Air France

London Heathrow remains one of the most lucrative and capacity‑constrained airports in the world. For foreign carriers such as Air France, slots at Heathrow are precious, and every element of the passenger journey — including the lounge — plays a role in winning and retaining premium customers. With British Airways and its Oneworld partners firmly entrenched across Terminals 3 and 5, SkyTeam’s footprint at Heathrow is comparatively modest, making a strong, distinctive lounge offering all the more important.

The Paris–London route is one of Air France’s flagship short‑haul city pairs, linking its main hub at Charles de Gaulle with Europe’s largest premium travel market. The airline is operating up to seven daily Heathrow–CDG flights in winter 2025–26 and will soon supplement its London presence with new Paris–Gatwick services. For corporate travelers, seamless ground services and a consistent brand experience on both ends of the route are key differentiators, particularly when competing with British Airways and Eurostar on travel time, comfort and flexibility.

By introducing a spa‑equipped, design‑led lounge at Heathrow, Air France is signaling that it sees London not only as a key feeder market into its global long‑haul network, but also as a stage on which to showcase its broader premium strategy. The expansion of its Airbus A220 and A350 fleets, alongside enhancements to long‑haul cabins and lounges in Paris, suggests a coordinated push to raise the bar for business and high‑end leisure travelers across its network.

How The New Lounge Fits Into Air France’s Wider Lounge Portfolio

In recent years, Air France has systematically refreshed or expanded its lounges at Paris Charles de Gaulle, particularly in Terminal 2E and 2F, adding spa areas, wellness zones and elevated dining concepts. Lounges in Hall K and Hall L of Terminal 2E, for example, now feature Clarins treatment areas, quiet rooms, upgraded shower suites and restaurant‑style food and beverage offerings, positioning them among Europe’s more advanced airline lounges.

Outside Paris, Air France has invested in a number of key outstation lounges, including at New York JFK, where the airline operates a spa area and dedicated services for La Première guests. The new London Heathrow lounge follows that same philosophy: taking elements once reserved for home‑hub facilities — such as spa treatments and carefully zoned relaxation areas — and exporting them to major international markets where competition for premium customers is intense.

Design continuity has also become a hallmark of Air France’s lounge strategy. By once again partnering with SGK Brandimage for the Heathrow project, the airline is likely to replicate the mix of clean lines, warm materials and French heritage accents seen in Paris. Features such as the historic winged seahorse emblem, curated art and a signature lounge fragrance have been used to create a distinct sense of place, and are expected to appear in London as well.

What It Means For SkyTeam Travelers At Heathrow

For SkyTeam flyers, the opening of the Air France lounge promises a more cohesive and clearly branded experience at Heathrow Terminal 4. Rather than splitting premium traffic between multiple third‑party lounges with varying service standards, SkyTeam’s European anchor airline will offer a flagship‑style space that can host a broad mix of eligible passengers across the alliance.

That should be particularly welcome news for frequent travelers who value predictable amenities such as reliable workspaces, higher‑end dining and wellness options. With the addition of a spa and quiet relaxation zones, the Air France lounge may emerge as one of the more sought‑after spaces in Terminal 4, standing alongside the newer Saudia Lounge as a premium option for alliance‑aligned passengers.

The planned opening in spring 2026 also aligns with broader shifts in the Heathrow lounge landscape, as airlines reassess their ground products in response to changing business travel patterns and rising expectations among leisure travelers willing to pay for premium cabins. If Air France’s execution in London matches its recent upgrades in Paris, the new lounge is likely to raise the competitive bar not just for SkyTeam, but for all carriers operating from Terminal 4.

FAQ

Q1. When will the new Air France lounge at London Heathrow open?
The lounge is scheduled to open in spring 2026, with an exact date to be confirmed closer to the time.

Q2. Where will the lounge be located at Heathrow?
The new Air France lounge will be located airside in Terminal 4 at London Heathrow Airport, serving passengers departing from that terminal.

Q3. How large will the lounge be and how many passengers can it accommodate?
The lounge will cover more than 750 square meters (around 8,070 square feet) and is designed to accommodate approximately 150 guests at a time.

Q4. Who can access the new Air France lounge?
Access will follow SkyTeam rules: Air France and KLM Business Class passengers, SkyTeam first and business class travelers, and SkyTeam Elite Plus members in any cabin will be eligible, along with Air France La Première and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers.

Q5. Will the lounge have a spa?
Yes. Air France has confirmed that the lounge will feature a dedicated spa and relaxation areas, offering wellness‑focused services in addition to standard lounge amenities.

Q6. What kind of food and drink will be available?
The lounge will feature a dining area with buffet service highlighting French‑inspired cuisine, as well as a bar offering a refined selection of French wines and champagnes.

Q7. Are there facilities for business travelers and remote workers?
Yes. The lounge will include dedicated workspaces and seating areas equipped for working, allowing passengers to catch up on emails or hold calls before their flight.

Q8. Will La Première customers receive special treatment in this lounge?
Air France has confirmed that La Première customers will have access, and while specific dedicated services in London have not yet been detailed, the airline typically offers enhanced attention to its first class passengers in its own lounges.

Q9. What lounge do Air France premium passengers currently use at Heathrow?
At present, Air France directs eligible premium passengers departing from Terminal 4 to the Plaza Premium Lounge, a third‑party facility that will effectively be superseded for Air France customers once the new lounge opens.

Q10. How does this lounge fit into Air France’s broader strategy?
The new Heathrow lounge is part of a wider push by Air France to enhance its premium ground experience in key markets, complementing recent lounge refurbishments in Paris and aligning with its expansion of services to and from the United Kingdom.