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Emirates is aiming to be the next airline to offer exclusive showers onboard for its most elite passengers. While the Emirati carrier already offers the option of two showers on its Airbus A380 aircraft, the airline wants to take it one step further by looking at dedicated ensuites for every first-class passenger.
Emirates President, Sir Tim Clark, has teased that the airline is already looking into the idea of fully private bathrooms for its first class suites, with the president speaking at CAPA Airline Leader Summit in Berlin, boasting that it would be the only airline to offer such an exclusive offering. While Etihad comes close with its residence product, for Emirates, this would be the first airline to offer a dedicated ensuite for every first class ticket holder.
A Dedicated Ensuite For Every First Class Traveler
Dubai based Emirates was the first airline to offer in-flght shower spas, which are shared for those in the first class cabin, and are available for a unique experience of a shower at 30,000 feet (9,144 m). However, the airline plans to take it one step further, with a fully private bathroom, within the first-class suite, firmly on the drawing board.
The idea of adding a private ensuite within the airline’s iconic first class suites would be a game-changing move and would be unmatched within the aviation industry. This idea would be something that would be complementary to the new game-changing first class suites that have been retrofitted on the Boeing 777-300ER, with floor-to-ceiling privacy.
Tim Clark teases en-suite bathrooms in Emirates first class
While it remains unclear which aircraft will first feature the product, the idea of dedicated ensuites would be ideally matched to the 777, with just six suites onboard in a 1-1-1 layout, as suggested by Upgraded Points.
Having A Shower At Cruising Altitude
At present, there are two shower suites on the A380, and these are bookable by first-class travelers when flying on eligible flights. Etihad Airways is the only other carrier to offer a similar product, with the Residence, which includes a private butler and a three-bedroom suite, which offers a bedroom, living room, and bathroom located at the front of the aircraft.
While Emirates is yet to commit to the ensuite offering, this is certainly the airline pushing the boundaries of what should and shouldn’t be on offer for first class. For the airline’s president, given that the discussions have been made with the media, you may expect it to become a reality, and would level up the international aviation industry.
The dedicated ensuite product would make flying in Emirates first class even more elusive and luxurious for those who are willing to fork out the thousands of dollars it takes to reserve a seat. Emirates is known to be a mover and shaker in the industry, and the ensuite product will be sure to send out a message that other airlines have to level up if they want to compete.
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‘Constantly Refining The Product’
Clark has made it clear that Emirates is continuing to refine the onboard experience to ensure that its offering doesn’t go stale. At present, the airline offers first class on A380 and Boeing 777 flights, with the first class shower spas currently only available on the airlines double decker.
Additionally, travelers can enjoy the first-class lounge and bar, where there is a communal sitting area and a full-service bar located within the aircraft to add another layer of exclusivity. The bar idea isn’t exclusive to Emirates, with Virgin Atlantic also having a similar product, and it was the first airline to offer the walk-up bar concept on its Boeing 747s.
At Emirates, the secret may be out, and with a dedicated ensuite potentially on the horizon, it will be a rethought and upgraded experience for an airline that has already re-shaped international aviation and transformed the market with its dominant position for travel to, from, and within the Middle East.
