A personal concierge will be made available to travellers on board The Residence, the luxury accommodation on flights that Etihad Airways introduced last year, in addition to their own bedroom and a butler.
The carrier has signed an agreement with Ten Group, a concierge service provider, to offer personalised service to top-tier customers on board its Airbus A380 fleet.
The concierges will help customers to make dining reservations, entertainment bookings, and attend special events.
The Residence cabin features three rooms and a dedicated Savoy-trained butler and Etihad hopes the executive jet-like offering will help to lure high-end travellers from rivals including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
Ten Group, a British company, “serves the needs of the affluent in 22 languages”.
Premium travel rose 1.4 per cent year on year in June, down from the growth of 4.1 per cent in May, according to the International Air Traffic Association (Iata).
Slower economic growth in Asia led to airlines’ weaker performance amid lower global business confidence.
However, “markets connected to the Middle East have also seen solid growth over recent months, particularly in premium class”, said Iata.
Continued weakness in emerging markets could hinder the growth of premium air travel, said the association.
“We have chosen to collaborate with a provider possessing the global reach and expertise which meet the demands and expectations of our most discerning guests,” said Etihad.
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