Burberry celebrates the magic of flight by installing a life-size hot air balloon and opening a pop-up store at Heathrow.
Standing over 15 metres tall, the Burberry Balloon is inspired by the real-life achievements of Air Commodore Edward Maitland, who, with fellow balloonists Auguste Gaudron and Charles Turner, travelled 1,117 miles from the Crystal Palace in London to Russia in 1908, and established the British long-distance, inflight record. Maitland wore Burberry gabardine suiting for his historic flight in the ‘Mammoth’ balloon, protecting him from the severe hardships of cold at high altitude.
Located in the departure lounge of Heathrow Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal, the installation features dedicated iPads and Burberry post boxes, allowing travellers to create and print their own Burberry postcards and send them to friends and family. The cards can be personalised with a passenger’s name and travel destination, and feature illustrations. An animated video of the Burberry Balloon and its journey from Heathrow to the chosen destination can be shared on the user’s social media account.
The Burberry Balloon will be accompanied by a pop-up store featuring bags from the British luxury brand’s DK88 collection, named after the house code for its signature honey-coloured gabardine. The DK88 comes in top handle, satchel and luggage-inspired styles for men and women, each featuring Burberry’s exclusive new Trench Leather.
The Burberry Balloon will be at Heathrow from 8 May to 7 August before travelling the next leg of its world tour to a secret destination.
Chris Annetts, Heathrow’s Retail and Service Director said: “We are delighted to be working with Burberry on this exciting installation. The balloon will truly wow our passengers and immerse them in the magic of flying even before they reach their destination. With personalised postcards and the most exclusive products, the Burberry Balloon will be a memorable experience long after our passengers arrive home.”
• The balloon is handmade by Cameron Balloons, one of the largest balloon makers in the UK.
• The basket is made by British designer Sebastian Cox using his signature wooden weave.
• Established in 1856, Burberry is a global British luxury brand with a heritage of innovation, craftsmanship and design.
• The Burberry business comprises five divisions: menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, accessories and beauty.
• Burberry is headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange (BRBY.L). Burberry is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.
• Visit www.burberryplc.com for further information.
Heathrow is the UK’s largest international airport. Last year, 75.7 million passengers travelled to 194 destinations in 82 countries. This year, Heathrow was voted ‘Best Airport in the World for Shopping’ for the eighth year in a row by Skytrax.
