Flights of fancy

With butlers, concierge services and a lounge, Etihad Airways gives a new meaning to sky-high luxury

Taking luxury flying experience to the next level, Etihad Airways unveiled on May 4 new product and service offerings on its Airbus A380 including The Residence. Offering single or double occupancy, it features a living room, separate double bedroom and ensuite shower room.

Guests can avail the services of a personal butler, trained by London's Savoy Butler Academy. They will also have a dedicated VIP travel concierge team that will ensure every detail of their travel experience, including ground transport, cuisine and amenities, are tailored to their requirements. Etihad will introduce these services on flights from Abu Dhabi to London, the fare for which will be $20,000. Each A380 will offer boutique versions of The Residence, with different color palettes, table marquetry and custom carpets.

James Hogan, Etihad's president and chief executive officer , says: "These new living spaces will raise in-flight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travellers' expectations of in-flight comfort and luxury forever." The airline will also introduce the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, with over 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high-definition screens across all cabins. The system has video touchscreen handsets, offering an additional screen for guests to maximise their entertainment, so they can play games or view the moving map while watching a movie. Noise-cancelling headsets will also be provided in the cabins, with built-in magnetic audio jacks, besides full mobile and Wi-Fi services.

With the launch of these new fleets, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will also redefine and rename its cabin classes. The A380 will feature nine First Apartments in the upper deck, which are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, as well as a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe. Besides these, the airline will feature Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats on the A380. First and Business Class guests will be able to relax in The Lobby which is a serviced lounge and bar area located between the First and Business cabins.

With a semi-circular leather sofa, a marquetry table and a large TV screen, The Lobby is designed for relaxing and socialising. The TV has a USB connection, which can be used for sharing content and business presentations.