"The Residence" is the featured attraction on Etihad's new upper-deck cabin on its Airbus A380 aircraft. It includes a living room, separate double bedroom and en-suite shower. Passengers have access to a butler, for those times when a flight attendant simply won't do.
New standard for inflight luxury —
"The Residence" is the featured attraction on Etihad's new upper-deck cabin on its Airbus A380 aircraft. It includes a living room, separate double bedroom and en-suite shower. Passengers have access to a butler, for those times when a flight attendant simply won't do.
Courtesy Ethiad
The Residence was designed for long-haul flights. Once reserved for private jets, the VIP suite has its own double bed, lounge and shower.
No seat belts? —
The Residence was designed for long-haul flights. Once reserved for private jets, the VIP suite has its own double bed, lounge and shower.
Courtesy Ethiad
Etihad's redesigned A380s also feature First Apartments, private suites with reclining lounge seats, full-length bed, minibar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe.
First Apartments —
Etihad's redesigned A380s also feature First Apartments, private suites with reclining lounge seats, full-length bed, minibar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe.
Courtesy Ethiad
On the Airbus A380, first- and business-class fliers can chat with their moneyed counterparts in The Lobby, a serviced lounge located between the first and business cabins.
The Lobby —
On the Airbus A380, first- and business-class fliers can chat with their moneyed counterparts in The Lobby, a serviced lounge located between the first and business cabins.
Courtesy Ethiad
On its upgraded Boeing 787s, Etihad Airways will offer eight enhanced First Suites, with minibars and 26-inch-wide seats that convert to flat beds. Though few would scoff at one of these seats, private inflight suites aren't a new concept. Airlines such as rival Emirates offer similar first-class amenities.
First Suite —
On its upgraded Boeing 787s, Etihad Airways will offer eight enhanced First Suites, with minibars and 26-inch-wide seats that convert to flat beds. Though few would scoff at one of these seats, private inflight suites aren't a new concept. Airlines such as rival Emirates offer similar first-class amenities.
Courtesy Ethiad
The new Business Studio will be available on both the A380 and the B787. The A380 will have 70 of these seats, while Boeing 787 flights will offer 28.
Business Studio —
The new Business Studio will be available on both the A380 and the B787. The A380 will have 70 of these seats, while Boeing 787 flights will offer 28.
Courtesy Ethiad
Etihad unveils world's most luxurious passenger jets

Story highlights

"The Residence by Etihad" is a three-room VIP suite with its own living room, double bedroom and shower

Etihad Airways, the UAE's flag carrier, redesigned the cabins in its A380 and B787 passengers jets

New luxury cabins designed by Etihad Design Consortium are based on customer feedback

CNN  — 

Etihad Airways obviously had a clear agenda when redesigning the cabins on its Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger jets – come up with a product so outlandishly luxurious that the world’s jet setters are left with no question as to who’s leading the inflight glitz game.

Case in point: on Etihad, travelers will soon be able to fly commercially in their own private residence with access to a Savoy Academy-trained butler, gourmet chef and concierge.

Unveiled at a weekend launch to introduce Etihad’s redesigned/renamed A380 and B787 cabins, “The Residence by Etihad” – available only on the airline’s A380 jets – is a three-room VIP suite with its own living room, double bedroom and ensuite shower.

Etihad says the space will sit in the upper-deck cabin and be available for single or double occupancy.

One rung down on the luxury ladder, the upper deck of the new A380s – the first of which is due for delivery in December – will also offer nine new First Apartments, which are private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed.

Each “apartment” will have its own 64-inch sliding door, minibar, personal vanity unit, wardrobe and swiveling TV monitor for viewing from either the seat or the bed.

On the airline’s new Dreamliners, the first of which is due for delivery in October, Etihad will offer First Suites, each with a large seat and ottoman, which converts into an 80.5 inch-long bed.

Once reserved for private jets, The Residence has its own double bed.
Once reserved for private jets, The Residence has its own double bed.
Courtesy Ethiad

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On center seats, armrests retract and the suites can be joined to create a “double” bed. Other features include a minibar and a 24-inch TV monitor.

Service at ‘highest level yet in commercial aviation’

On both the A380 and the B787, Etihad Airways will offer new Business Studios, which it says provide 20% more personal space than its current business-class seat.

All seats have aisle access and convert into a fully flat 80.5-inch bed.

Special prayer areas for Muslim passengers will be offered on both aircraft.

Etihad says prayer areas can be curtained off for privacy and are equipped with a real-time electronic Qibla-finder showing the exact direction of Mecca based on the aircraft’s geographical position.

On the Airbus A380, all first- and business-class passengers will have access to The Lobby, a serviced lounge located between the two classes of cabins.

With the launch of these new aircraft, Etihad Airways says it will update dining equipment, amenities and soft furnishings across its entire fleet.

No word yet on how much tickets will cost.

“These new living spaces will raise inflight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travelers’ expectations of inflight comfort and luxury forever,” said James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and CEO, in a statement.

The cabins are the work of the Etihad Design Consortium, which is made up of three design companies – Acumen, Factorydesign and Honour Branding.

Etihad says it held consumer research and workshops in Abu Dhabi, Sydney, London and New York to determine what makes a “perfect flight” and asked consumers for their feedback, which was used to design the new products.

Your move, Emirates.

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