31 Aug 2016
British Airways i360 welcomed its 100,000th passenger on board a flight to 450 feet above Brighton this weekend [August 29], just over three weeks after the attraction opened.
The world's first vertical cable car, conceived and designed by London Eye architects Marks Barfield Architects, has already met its summer visitor target, attracting huge crowds as well as global attention since it opened on August 4.
“We are delighted to be on target, hitting this enormous visitor figure in such a short time this summer and we expect to build on this with the start of our events season in our stunning beach level venue starting this week,” said David Marks, Chairman of British Airways i360.
Eleanor Harris, CEO of British Airways i360, said, “Reaction from the public has been overwhelmingly positive and so far we are running 10 percent over our budgeted visitor numbers. 6,500 local residents have already signed up as members and we have also welcomed hundreds of journalists from around the world, including Australia, USA, France, Germany, Finland and many more countries.”
Cllr Gill Mitchell, deputy leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said, “We are delighted that British Airways i360 is already proving to be so popular and is attracting visitors from far and wide as well as helping to build Brighton & Hove's fame across the world.”
For further media information please contact Paula Seager, Natural PR, Tel: 01273 857242 or email: paula@naturalpr.biz
Useful information
Tickets and Pricing:
Tickets cost from £13.50 per adult and from £6.75 per child when booked online at BritishAirwaysi360.com at least three days in advance. Walk-up prices are £15.00 per adult and £7.50 per child. Discounts are available for students and pensioners, and children under 4 years old go free.
Priority Flights can be booked during peak times and cost from £22.50 per person, including fast-track entry and a guide book.
Visitors can re-live the experience year-round with an annual pass, which costs £90.00 per adult and £45.00 per child and entitles the holder to unlimited walk-up entry (subject to availability), monthly promotions across the attraction and early invitations to special events. Discounts are available for seniors and students.
Disabled visitors may bring an assistant with them free of charge and are encouraged to call the booking number to discuss their requirements (no surcharge will apply).
Information for editors
About British Airways i360
British Airways i360 is conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye. With an overall height of 162m, and an observation pod that rises from ground level to 138m above Brighton beach, British Airways i360 is the world's tallest moving observation tower. Each 'flight' will carry up to 200 visitors at a time to enjoy unprecedented views across Brighton and Hove, the South Downs and the beautiful south coast. While onboard, guests can enjoy a drink at the Nyetimber Sky Bar, which serves a range of drinks from Sussex producers including Nyetimber, an award-winning sparkling wine producer. At beach level is the stylish Belle Vue restaurant with sea views and a large terrace, serving delicious food from the region. The West Pier Tea Room is housed in a reconstructed tollbooth based on the original tollbooths built in 1866. The British Airways i360 shop includes gifts and souvenirs, many created by local Brighton artists.
British Airways i360 holds the Guinness World Record for the World's Most Slender Tower, with a diameter of just 3.9 meters at its widest point.
British Airways i360 has worked with the West Pier Trust to reconstruct two of the original West Pier tollbooths using Victorian building techniques. The reconstructed buildings now grace the entrance to British Airways i360, and will house the West Pier Tea Room and ticket office.
www.BritishAirwaysi360.com
Twitter: @BA_i360
Instagram: @BA_i360
Facebook: BritishAirwaysi360
Pinterest: @BA_i360
Hashtag: #bai360
About Marks Barfield Architects
David Marks and Julia Barfield are the architect-entrepreneurs behind the creation of Brighton i360. They founded the company in 2005 and are its majority shareholders. Previously they performed a similar role creating the London Eye where they remained shareholders and directors until 2006. Together with a tight-knit group of extraordinary individuals, trusted consultants and companies, many of whom worked with David and Julia at the London Eye, they secured the planning permission, partners, land and funding for British Airways i360. Marks Barfield Architects is one of the UK's most versatile and innovative architecture practices, established in 1989. David chairs the British Airways i360 board.
@marksbarfield
About British Airways
British Airways is one of the world's leading global premium airlines and the UK's largest international scheduled airline, carrying approximately 35 million passengers worldwide annually, on around 800 daily flights. The airline employs around 40,000 people, the vast majority of these at its sites throughout the UK, and has an annual turnover of £8.5 billion. It employs 2,500 people in Sussex, several hundred of them in Brighton.
www.ba.com
@british_airways
