Japan's ANA to introduce first bidet in the air
By Reuters
Sunday July 8, 11:20 PM
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Japan's All Nippon Airways will install bidet-toilets as standard in the fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners it starts flying next year, in a bid to attract more of its fastidious home country passengers, where the "washlet" is commonplace.
The toilets, made by Japan's Toto Ltd., will "refresh the parts other airlines cannot reach," ANA's chief executive said at an event in Seattle on Sunday, through an interpreter.
He was speaking hours before the first 787 was set to be unveiled at Boeing's nearby Everett, Washington, plant.
The bidet-toilet is a standard fixture in about 60 percent of Japanese households, according to a survey by the country's Cabinet Office, but the trend has yet to catch on worldwide.
All Nippon, known as ANA, is hoping to introduce more people to the washlet after it takes delivery of the first 787 in May next year. The Japanese No. 2 carrier is hoping to have the plane ready to fly from Japan to Beijing for next summer's Olympics, and plans to introduce routes to North America and Europe sometime later.
The airline has 50 787s on order and is currently weighing up whether to buy 10 or 20 more, ANA CEO Mineo Yamamoto told reporters on Sunday.
By Reuters
Sunday July 8, 11:20 PM
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Japan's All Nippon Airways will install bidet-toilets as standard in the fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners it starts flying next year, in a bid to attract more of its fastidious home country passengers, where the "washlet" is commonplace.
The toilets, made by Japan's Toto Ltd., will "refresh the parts other airlines cannot reach," ANA's chief executive said at an event in Seattle on Sunday, through an interpreter.
He was speaking hours before the first 787 was set to be unveiled at Boeing's nearby Everett, Washington, plant.
The bidet-toilet is a standard fixture in about 60 percent of Japanese households, according to a survey by the country's Cabinet Office, but the trend has yet to catch on worldwide.
All Nippon, known as ANA, is hoping to introduce more people to the washlet after it takes delivery of the first 787 in May next year. The Japanese No. 2 carrier is hoping to have the plane ready to fly from Japan to Beijing for next summer's Olympics, and plans to introduce routes to North America and Europe sometime later.
The airline has 50 787s on order and is currently weighing up whether to buy 10 or 20 more, ANA CEO Mineo Yamamoto told reporters on Sunday.
