All Nippon Airways (ANA) has partnered with JAMCO Corporation to develop the world's first hands-free door that allows easy access to lavatories on its aircraft. The innovative door was developed as part of the ANA Care Promise initiative, and will help limit potential vectors for the transmission of pathogens.
"Guided by the principles of ANA Care Promise, we have continued to invest in the development and implementation of innovative technologies because the health and safety of passengers and our staff is the top priority," said Shinichi Inoue, Senior Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Management & Planning. "The hands-free lavatory door is the latest example of us putting this principle into practice as we look for ways to make the travel experience safer and more convenient."
The new lavatory door is equipped with a large inner door locking knob and an additional handle so that passengers can use their elbows to unlock the door. Because the door mechanism is different to those found on other aircraft, signage has been placed near the lavatory to provide operational instructions.
The hands-free lavatory will be installed on 11 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, two Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and eight Boeing 777-200. The initial installation will be for aircrafts serving domestic routes, while ANA hopes to introduce the system to all domestic and international aircraft in the future.
© Japan Today
6 Comments
Login to comment
Ai Wonder
We all need to fly less for the sake of the planet irrespective of toilet doors.
JeffLee
Surface contact is a very low risk and shouldn't be the focus of such efforts. The fact that passengers in economy class are seated cheek to jowl in the hundreds and sharing the same air is thousands of times more risky, which is what ANA should be working on first.
Jtsnose
Space is so cramped inside an airplane toilet room . . . has anyone considered using a sliding door? . . . .
Kyakusenbi_Arimasu
Just be sure to not get an itchy elbow.
Desert Tortoise
You know there's a paper product for that.