news | transport LUXURY IN THE SKIES Etihad to offer three-room suites on A380s
ETIHAD AIRWAYS HAS unveiled plans for the world’s fi rst private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft. T e Residence — dubbed ‘the world’s most
luxurious living space in the air’ by the United Arab Emirates’ national carrier — is available only on the airline’s new fl eet of Airbus A380s, which will fl y between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi from December 27. Located on the forward upper deck and
measuring 125sq ft in total, the cabin, which is available for single or double occupancy, will feature a living room, double bedroom and separate en-suite shower room. Each A380 will off er a boutique version of T e Residence, with diff erent color palettes, table marquetry and custom carpets. In addition, and another fi rst for the airline
industry, guests will have a personal butler on call. T ey will combine the roles of a concierge and maitre d’hotel, having undergone specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, part of the world-famous Savoy Hotel. T ere will also be a dedicated VIP Travel
Concierge team to ensure that every detail — including ground transport, cuisine and amenities — is individually tailored for guests of T e Residence. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief
commercial offi cer, said: “T e Residence will set Etihad Airways apart from the rest of the industry and allow us to provide the complete range of
CRUISECONTROL
WINDSTAR CRUISES’ 212-passenger Star Pride is the company’s fi rst new vessel in nearly two decades and its fi rst without sails. Star Pride, christened in May, is one of three
sister ships Windstar is acquiring from Seabourn — the others, Star Legend and Star Breeze, join the fl eet in May 2015. They are part of development plans that will create one of the largest small-ship lines worldwide. Before the acquisitions, Windstar consisted of Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf, but with
these new additions, each with a capacity of 212 passengers, the size of the fl eet will double, ensuring a revamped Windstar Cruises offers 1,230 berths in all. Star Pride will initially operate in the
Mediterranean and Black Sea, while the schedule for next year includes voyages from Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
windstarcruises.com
A room in Etihad’s A380 Residence suite
world-class products and services to cater for the individual tastes of every VIP traveler.” T e A380s will also feature First Apartments,
fully private suites with a full-length bed and separate reclining lounge seat, as well as a mini- bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe. T e Etihad Design Consortium brought
together leading design companies Acumen, Factorydesign and Honour Branding to develop
the designs, with the aim of bringing the individuality and exclusivity of a luxury boutique hotel experience to the sky. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and
CEO, said: “T ese new living spaces will raise in-fl ight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travelers’ expectations of in-fl ight comfort and luxury forever.”
etihad.com
take
tock
US scheduled passenger airlines made a net profi t of $12.7 billion in 2013, including collecting a total of $3.3 billion in baggage fees, according to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
dot.gov
30 | ASTAnetwork | summer 2014
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