Abu Dhabi's Etihad raises stakes in fight for high-end travelers with A380 bed and bath suite

5/4/2014

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Fast-growing Middle East carrier Etihad Airways will soon offer wealthy passengers who think first-class seats are a bit too tight a miniature suite featuring a hived-off bedroom, private bathroom with shower and a dedicated butler.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier announced the front-of-plane amenities today as part of a broader rollout of plush new cabin offerings for long-range jetliners it plans to receive over the coming years.

The state-owned airline is calling the bed-and-bathroom suite a “residence” that will be available for up to two passengers onboard its double-decker Airbus A380s when they enter service in December.

It is the latest in a series of fancy offerings by Etihad, which already offers perks including private first-class chefs and in-flight nannies.