Bathrooms in sky: Emirates plans radical first-class upgrade

As far as in-air experiences go, a first-class cabin on Emirates is already among the most premium ways to fly on a commercial airline.

However, the president of the Dubai-based carrier, Tim Clark, has said that continuous innovation remains essential in the competitive aviation market, and that the airline plans further enhancements to its first-class offering, The National reports.

"I'm working on en-suite bathrooms in first-class suites," he said, speaking by video at the 2026 Capa Airline Leader Summit in Berlin on Thursday. "I want everyone to hear that so everyone rushes out the door to find out how they can get bathrooms in first-class suites."

Clark, who has been with Emirates since its founding in 1985 and became president in 2003, said the airline is “constantly refining the product” to avoid “going stale”.

At present, Emirates first-class cabins are available on all Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. On the Airbus A380, first-class passengers have access to two shower spas, an onboard lounge and bar, as well as luxury amenities, while private suites are fitted with sliding doors. The experience is widely regarded for its combination of privacy and social space.

The Boeing 777 offers a more enclosed and private configuration, with fully sealed floor-to-ceiling suites. While its entertainment and technology features are more advanced, the cabins are smaller. Middle-seat suites include virtual windows, although shower spas are not available on this aircraft.

At present, no commercial airline offers private en-suite bathrooms for every first-class passenger.

Etihad Airways provides a comparable premium product with “The Residence,” which includes a private bathroom and shower. Introduced in 2014, it is available on select Airbus A380 flights where first class is also offered. The Residence is a three-room suite featuring a living room, bedroom, and en-suite bathroom, and is often described as “an apartment in the sky.”

The Emirates initiative comes amid a broader industry trend of upgrading passenger comfort across all cabin classes.

Both Emirates and Etihad allow economy passengers to purchase adjacent seats for extra space. Meanwhile, other airlines are introducing new economy innovations, including bunk beds and sofa-style seating, such as Air New Zealand’s Skynest bunk beds for ultra-long-haul flights and United Airlines’ Relax Row concept.

By Vafa Guliyeva