For those who wish to travel by air in the lap of luxury, Etihad Airways is the ultimate luxury airliner. The national airliner of the United Arab Emirates–established by royal decree in July 2003–unveiled The Residence, the world’s first private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft, back in May of this year. The Residence features a living room, a double bedroom, a separate ensuite shower room, and for the first time in the airline industry, a dedicated fully-trained butler. That’s right, a butler. Thirteen specially trained “flying butlers”–11 men and two women–have recently completed a three-week course on etiquette, protocol, valet skills, and concierge services and are at the ready to attend to passengers in the $20,000-a-trip three-room Residence. These hand-picked butlers were previously employed as in-flight chefs and food and beverage managers who have experience working and training at the Savoy, a luxury hotel in London, England where a two-bed Royal Suite costs more than $19,000 a night, as well as instruction at the London School of Hospitality and Tourism. The exclusive and dedicated Etihad-employed butlers will wear brown tails and white gloves designed by Rome-based fashion designer Ettore Bilotta and will combine “the discretion of a traditional English butler with the efficiency of a 21st century personal assistant,” says Savoy Head Butler Sean Davoren.
Measuring in at a total area of 125 square feet, The Residence–which is available for both single and double occupancy–will be located at the forward upper deck of the airliner’s new fleet of double-decker Airbus A380s, purchased in the hopes of competing with Emirates, the number-one operator of the Airbus Group NV plane, as well as Qatar Airways and global rivals including Singapore Airlines Ltd. Passengers of The Residence will also have access to first class offerings, including the company’s brand new onboard lounge, and a personally-prepared range of gourmet á la carte meals and custom menus. A VIP Concierge team will also ensure the entirety of the luxury experience, including booking limousine transfers, check-in, and custom menu planning, runs as smooth as possible. The Residence’s living room is furnished with a two-seat reclining leather sofa, dual dining tables, a 32-inch LCD TV, and a chilled mini bar, while a touchscreen control unit can be utilized to control and adjust the cabin’s retractable ottoman, mood and lighting, window shading, seat position and firmness, and the in-seat massage function. The master bedroom features an 82-inch double bed with custom-made mattress, a bedside unit, a wardrobe, and hand luggage storage, along with another 28-inch LCD TV. The contemporary interior also includes a communications suite featuring broadband with internet mobile and data capacity, live TV, HDMI, AC outlet, USB ports, WiFi, and the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system. Etihad’s first A380 is set to enter commercial service on the Abu Dhabi to London route on December 27, 2014.
Scroll down for photos of the Etihad Airways Air Suite and a video exploration of the The Residence–“the ultimate luxury above the clouds”–courtesy of Etihad Airways’ YouTube channel. Visit etihad.com for more information.
Photos by Etihad Airways via Getty Images
Video by Etihad Airways/YouTube.com
Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images
