First airplane bathroom door that opens without using hands
Among the many initiatives to limit the spread of pathogens, that of ANA (All Nippon Airways) is certainly among [...]
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
Oneworld
Among the many initiatives to limit the spread of pathogens, that of ANA (All Nippon Airways) is certainly among the most interesting and revolutionary. In fact, the Japanese airline has designed an innovative door that allows passengers to be able to enter the toilet cabin without using their hands.
In this article:
The door to be opened with the elbows
The invention was the result of a collaboration between the Japanese carrier and aircraft interior supplier Jamco Corporation, which decided to develop the innovative door. The first trials of the product took place last September in the airline's lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The hands-free door features a large internal door locking knob. Also present is an additional handle so that passengers can use their elbows to unlock it. Signage has been placed near the toilet stall to provide operational instructions for passengers unfamiliar with the mechanism.
To find out how to use this door, a video tutorial has also been published and released.
Since May 1, anti-Covid doors have been introduced in some domestic flights. ANA plans to add this new concept in all domestic and international aircraft in the future. The first phase of deployment will see the product installed on 21 aircraft: 11 B787-8s, two B787-9s and eight B777-200s.
Shinichi Inoue, Senior Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Management and Planning, commented, "Guided by the ANA Care Promise principles, we have continued to invest in the development and implementation of innovative technologies because the health and safety of passengers and our staff is a top priority. The hands-free bathroom door is the latest example of how we have put this principle into practice as we look for ways to make the travel experience safer and more convenient."
The ANA Care Promise program
The initiative is part of the ANA Care Promise effort, a set of cleanliness standards introduced in July. The goal is to ensure a safer travel experience through a series of initiatives. From departure to check-in, through security checks to waiting at the gates, All Nippon Airways covers all moments of travel. In addition, even on board, prior to the introduction of the new gate, the company had taken action with antibacterial wipes and cabins cleaned and disinfected daily.
These are the words of Yuji Hirako, president and ceo of ANA: "We want to reassure our passengers and employees that Ana is taking every precaution to provide a clean, safe and comfortable travel experience. As new specific cleaning and sanitization measures are considered by our industry, government, or airports, we will consider their possible implementation." A promise kept from the earliest months.
