The Residence

Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the UAE, has introduced the world’s first private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft.

The new concept, The Residence, will feature a living room, double bedroom, a separate ensuite shower room, along with a butler.

Located on the forward upper deck of the carrier’s new fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft, The Residence measures 125ft², and will be available for single or double occupancy.

Etihad Airways chief commercial officer Peter Baumgartner said: "The Residence will set Etihad Airways apart from the rest of the industry and allow us to provide the complete range of world-class products and services to cater for the individual tastes of every VIP traveller."

Available on call throughout the flight, the butler offers similar personalised services to the world’s most exclusive hotels.

These hospitality professionals, selected by Etihad Airways, are currently undergoing specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, part of the Savoy Hotel.

"The Residence will set Etihad Airways apart from the rest of the industry and allow us to provide the complete range of world-class products and services to cater for the individual tastes of every VIP traveller."

The Residence has a VIP Concierge team, and features a living room that is furnished with a two-seat reclining sofa upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, dual marquetry dining tables and a chilled mini-bar.

Among other amenities are a touchscreen control unit that operates the retractable ottoman, ambient and mood lighting, window shading, as well as adjusts seat position and firmness, and activates the in-seat massage functions.

The bedroom features a Poltrona Frau upholstered 82in long double bed, bedside unit, wardrobe, and under-bed stowage for hand luggage.

Other features includes LCD TVs; a communications suite that features broadband with internet mobile and data capability, Live TV, HDMI, AC outlet and USB ports; Wi-Fi; and Panasonic eX3 entertainment system controlled by video touch screen and handset.

Certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for dual occupancy, The Residence has been built by B/E Aerospace in the UK in partnership with the Etihad Design Consortium (EDC) and Poltrona Frau.

Image: The Residence multi-room cabin. Photo: courtesy of Etihad Media Centre.

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