travel

ANA to install world's first hands-free lavatory doors on 21 aircraft

6 Comments

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

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

6 Comments
Login to comment

We all need to fly less for the sake of the planet irrespective of toilet doors.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

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.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Space is so cramped inside an airplane toilet room . . . has anyone considered using a sliding door? . . . .

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Just be sure to not get an itchy elbow.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

And try to take a crap without touching the toilet's surface too..

You know there's a paper product for that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites