Confirmed today - Emirates new A380 service, to be unveiled next Monday in Hamburg will be the first aircraft to have onboard showers.
There are two showers onboard, upstairs at the front of the aircraft for the use of first class passengers (14 seats).
Since Emirates is keeping the exact details under wraps until the unveiling next week, details are scarce, including how cabin staff will extricate a passenger mid-shower if turbulence occurs. Reports say an extra tonne of water will be enough to feed the use of the showers. 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 flight takes place on August 1 and August 3. Flights will operate in a three-class first, business and economy layout.
Between the end of July 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 ABTN and Business Traveller, John Leahy, head of sales in Airbus's Toulouse office, 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 purchased 58 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.
Tom Otley