Etihad installs first private suite on flights to London

Etihad Airways has introduced its new private suite on an aircraft serving the Abu Dhabi to London route, and says it will roll it out across its network of wide-bodied aircraft over the next 16 months. The first private suite includes leather upholstery, a lit wardrobe and a bed that is 204.5cm long, and is part of plans to upgrade its premium services. This year, Etihad was named best business-class airline by a passenger survey conducted by Skytrax, the London travel consultancy.

"The new suite is state-of-the-art in every way," said James Hogan, the chief executive of Etihad. Although the global aviation industry has had a year-long drop in numbers of passengers in first and business class because of the downturn, these sections are vital to airlines' bottom lines. Premium cabins typically make up less than 10 per cent of overall seats on the plane but can account for more than 30 per cent of revenues.

The race to win well-heeled travellers has recently led to airlines offering more and more conveniences onboard, with Emirates offering a shower for first-class passengers on its A380s and Qantas providing 203cm of legroom for passengers in its business-class cabin. Poltrona Frau, an Italian leather company, designed the seats for Etihad's first-class section, which have been put in the airline's newest Airbus A340-600 aircraft.

Within the first-class cabin there is also a changing room with full-length mirror and a wash basin, the company said. A second A340-600 with the new suite will join the fleet next month, and Etihad plans to receive five Airbus A330-300 aircraft with the suites within two years. Etihad also said it would retrofit nine Airbus A340 aircraft currently in service by December next year. [e-mail]

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