Air Transport

Emirates will carry an additional 500kg of water on its Airbus A380s to feed the shower installations being fitted as a feature of the first-class cabin on the type.

The A380 will have two shower-spas in the forward upper deck, ahead of the 14 first-class suites, and Emirates president Tim Clark today detailed the mechanism which enables them to function.

Clark says the showers are a “masterpiece” of engineering, taking water stored from a tank in the vicinity of the centre wing-box and pumping it up two decks to the spa cubicle.

© Flight Visit the Emirates A380 gallery on AirSpace | Airbus A380 including images of SIA's A380

“It’s managing it which will be the most complex part, because we think it’ll be extremely popular,” he said, speaking to Flight premium affiliate ATI on board Emirates’ first A380 during a delivery ceremony in Hamburg.

He says the showers will require transporting about 25% more water than would normally be required for an aircraft of the A380’s specification, but says: “It’s not that much more, about 500kg if that.”

In order to ensure the water level is sufficient, passengers will book a 25min window to use the spa, of which 5min will be to use the shower itself. A timer will show passengers how much longer the shower has to run.

“If you’re on the ‘amber’ mark, and your hair’s still full of shampoo, you’d better get going,” says Clark, although he adds that on flights with lighter loads the timing could be adjusted accordingly.

Two full-time cabin service attendants will be employed on board to ensure the showers are kept clean and hygienic.

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news

• Emirates Airbus A380 gallery
• Airbus A380 gallery