Virgin Atlantic Airways

Virgin Atlantic Airways aircraft maintenance facility

Facts and figures

  • 70-week programme, meeting Airbus A340-600 delivery deadline
  • The hangar location was planned to minimise impact on airside activities
  • The facility includes; electrical and compressed air services; overhead gantry cranes; extensive underground service ducts; hydraulic systems; foam flood water cannon fire protection; and high intensity lighting
  • Introduced a Health and Safety Awareness programme to prevent accidents and injury
  • Value: £25m

The project comprising a development totalling some 13,000 sq m in plan area split between buildings and external works involved the construction of an Aircraft Maintenance facility and Ancillary buildings, consisting of a large steel framed hangar, up to 35 metres high, with a linked three-storey office facility.

Interserve was awarded the contract under a competitive two-stage tender process, in which we worked closely with BAA Property, Virgin Atlantic Airways and the design team to integrate their construction methodology with designers’ creativity. The team’s joint effort focused on achieving the required quality, cost and programme certainty, with Interserve signing up to an agreed contract sum within the client’s budget.

Our innovative solution for jacking the roof solved logistical problems and delivered benefits that included cost savings, eight weeks in time and reduced risk. The project was delivered on time, due to the successful working relationship we forged with the airport estates personnel, and our understanding of procurement requirements when working in airport environments. Our successful management of the project completion process meant that we minimised disruption to the other stakeholders affected by the project.