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Showers in the sky

Published: 23/07/2008 - Filed under: News »

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It’s official – Emirates is to offer in-flight showers on its new A380 aircraft, and we’ve got the seat plans to prove it.

Emirates’ new A380 service, to be unveiled next Monday in Hamburg, will be the first commercial aircraft to have onboard showers. As you can see from the seat plan below, there are two showers upstairs at the front of the aircraft for the 14 first class passengers on board.

Since Emirates is keeping the exact details under wraps until next week, details are scarce, including how cabin staff will extricate a passenger mid-shower if turbulence occurs. The “Shower Spas” include the use of “Timeless shower kits” which come in two versions – Revive and Relax.

The A380 is being delivered to Emirates at Hamburg on Monday, with a delivery flight to Dubai taking place the same day. The first commercial flights will be on August 1 and August 3 (see online news June 9), and will operate in a three-class first, business and economy layout.

Between the end of July 2008 and March 2009, Emirates will take delivery of five A380s which, after New York, will begin to appear on routes linking Dubai with London Heathrow, Sydney and Auckland.

Speaking exclusively to Business Traveller and ABTN, John Leahy, chief operating officer (customers) for Airbus, said: “We’re pleased the A380 is coming to New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles because it’s the beginning of it coming to all the cities of the world. It’s the plane for our time, and it will be shown and flown around the world.”

All told, Emirates has put its name down for 58 of the A380s at a list price of US$18.8 billion, which is by far the largest order by any airline.

For more details go to emirates.com.

Report by Tom Otley

Emirates A380 seat plan

NigelHuggins - 24/07/2008 12:12

I cannot believe that an airline with the reputation of Emirates (especially in business class) is going for a seat configuration that you show in your "showers" report. A business cabin with 160 seats (arranged it seems like the BA Club cabin!) cannot possibly give the service anticipated (note - not EXPECTED) to so many passengers no matter how many crew members are allocated. Just 14 passengers in first could not possibly get "sticky" enough to warrant 2 showers when 160 Premium (Business) passengers get no chance of freshening up before landing! Also, just one lounge area (doubtless not much bigger than on Virgin Upper Class) for 160 to crowd dangerously around a bar clamouring for a stool upon which to sit and enjoy a drink vs 14 passengers for what seems to be the same available area for first class seems poor planning. Then, as I mentioned Virgin, no apparent "treatment area" for an in flight massage which is a nice touch for those chosen to receive the privelege from the applicants in Upper Class. I am aware of, and indeed have seen at the Business Travel Show, the Suites on offer on the Eastern bound flights from the Middle East onboard Emirates and frankly, they are "The Business!", however, it would be a huge disappointment to many, if other Premium passengers were to "suffer" at the expense of the few whose companies are still prepared to recognise the importance of their senior executives by rewarding them with first class travel.

WanderingAramean.com - 28/07/2008 21:19

That's a ton of Biz seats there. It makes sense, since that is generally where the best yields come from in terms of costs and folks actually buying the seats. And except for the strange seating arrangement in Biz the whole thing looks pretty nice overall. Of course a 5 minute limit on the shower isn't enough time for anyone to wash their hair or do much more than get a bit wet, but it is better than nothing.

jessesarah - 30/07/2008 08:54

just to clear up the comment from nigel, the emirates A380 config for business class only has 76 seats, with one seat by the window and two central seats. there are 8 dedicated business class crew members, so each crew member with be caring for a maximum of 12 customers. this is a higher crew to pax ration than on board the other aircraft in the emirates fleet.