Dubai’s top airline Emirates has removed shower attendants on its snazziest flights in the UK. The news comes as it was revealed the attendants were not officially licensed crew members.
Emirates in the UK has announced it has removed its shower attendants on its first-class A380 flights to London, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester effective immediately.
As One Mile A Time explains, the crew responsible for the upkeep of the A380’s shower suites do not hold a flying license as the rest of the flight crew do. The UK Border Control has cracked down on this loop hole and has said there is a “restriction with entry of non-licensed crew.”
Emirates’ shower attendants currently do not receive the same training as the rest of the cabin crew, meaning they do not have the same visas as cabin crew, do not have the same licenses, and do not have the ability to do certain things on flights such as standing when the seatbelt sign is on.
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As they do not get the same training, it’s said they are paid significantly less than Emirates cabin crew, the salary estimation of the shower attendants has not been revealed.
In a statement sent to Arabian Business, an Emirates spokesperson said the airline “abides by the rules and regulations of the respective issuing country for our operating crew”.
“We are reviewing our resources and making adjustments on board to ensure our customers continue to receive the signature Emirates service,” the spokesperson added.
However, the company isn’t letting the UK Border Control crackdown impact your first class experience however. While Emirates finds a permanent solution to this change, it is supplying extra first class cabin crew to handle the shower suites.
Emirates this year bagged the award for ‘Best First Class’, ‘Airline with the Best Economy Class’, ‘Airline with the Best Frequent Flyer Program’ and ‘Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East.’ Most impressive of all, it also bagged ‘Best Airline Worldwide’ at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards.
The airline is only one of two airlines in the world to have showers for first class members, with the other being Abu Dhabi’s Etihad.
