British Airways customers traveling through Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on a typical Friday found themselves face to face with a rather unexpected guest – a Dalek!
This peculiar occurrence left both Doctor Who fans and unsuspecting passengers in awe, adding a touch of science fiction to their journey.
Unexpected Encounter
As passengers waited in the Arrivals hall to greet their loved ones, several were taken by surprise with the sight of one of Doctor Who’s most fearsome foes, a Dalek, standing guard over British Airways’ arriving customers.
The intrigue didn’t end there, as the metallic menace then also made an appearance in the Departures area.
Bewildered travelers spotted this iconic villain, apparently in the midst of checking in for a flight to Skaro, a long-haul destination not typically found on British Airways’ route network.
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A Whovian Connection
This unscheduled arrival of the Dalek at British Airways’ hub in Heathrow Terminal 5 was not a mere coincidence.
It marked the beginning of a new partnership between British Airways and BBC Studios, aimed at celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic British science fiction series, Doctor Who.
The collaboration comes with a host of exciting initiatives, including the launch of a dedicated Doctor Who inflight entertainment channel, which will be available to all the airline’s customers on long-haul flights starting from November 1.
Doctor Who Inflight Entertainment
The new inflight entertainment channel is set to be a treat for Whovians worldwide. It will feature 13 highly acclaimed episodes of Doctor Who, making it the perfect way for fans to immerse themselves in the longest-running science fiction television series in the world, while soaring through the skies.
Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, expressed his excitement about this unique partnership, saying,
“We are really excited to be partnering with the BBC’s Doctor Who to create a dedicated channel on our inflight entertainment system, another fantastic British Original partnership that we know our customers will love.”
“This year alone we have doubled the amount of content available on our in-flight entertainment, and we are committed to continuing to bring the best, out-of-this-world entertainment to the skies.”
A Celebration of British Icons
Sarah Bold, Head of Marketing, Scripted at BBC Studios, added, “Doctor Who has been inspiring and entertaining audiences globally for an incredible 60 years, and we couldn’t miss this opportunity to bring two iconic British brands together in style to celebrate.”
“Travelers and subscribers will be able to enjoy a curated collection of content, and the tie-in will reach millions of people throughout the partnership.”
Doctor Who returns from November 25th on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ for the rest of the world, with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary.
The Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, will then take control of the TARDIS, with his first episode airing over the festive period in 2023. Ncuti Gatwa also features in British Airways’ latest safety video.
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