The British Airways i360 is a 162m observation tower on the seafront of Brighton, near to the remains of the West Pier. According to the operator, the "i" in the title stands for "intelligence, innovation and integrity". The i360 opened on 4 August 2016.
The i360 was designed, engineered, manufactured and promoted by the team responsible for the London Eye. The British Airways i360 is the world's first vertical cable car and the world's tallest moving observation tower - the team expects the tower to appear in the 2017 Guinness Book of Records as "the world's slenderest tall tower".
From the fully enclosed viewing pod, visitors experience 360 degree views across Brighton, the South Downs, the English Channel and on the clearest days all the way along the coast to Beachy Head in the East and to the Isle of Wight in the West (49 miles).
It is estimated by the developers that the i360 will generate more than 440 permanent jobs; 169 posts at the attraction, and additional jobs from the spin-off benefits to other businesses in the city. The projected cost of the tower is £46 million, with £36 million being funded by a Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) loan through Brighton and Hove city council. In 2014, some local residents launched a petition to oppose the loan.
Formerly known as the "Brighton i360", the project aims to attract 739,000 paying customers every year. The owner of the site, the West Pier Trust, hoped in 2014 that a successful i360 would lead to the rebuilding of the historic West Pier.