Ladies given their own airborne powder rooms

All Nippon Airways is introducing ladies-only lavatories on virtually all its international routes -- a measure that was as much in demand among ANA's male passengers as it was with female customers.

(Relaxnews) -

All Nippon Airways is introducing ladies-only lavatories on virtually all its international routes - a measure that was as much in demand among ANA's male passengers as it was with female customers.

The women-only toilet facilities will be introduced on March 11 on all the airline's long- and medium-haul flights. For shorter international hops, such as between Japanese destinations and South Korea's Incheon Airport, the lavatories will remain in use for both sexes as the smaller aircraft on those routes - the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 - only have three toilets on board, a spokeswoman for the company said.

"There has been a big demand from lady travellers for their own restroom facilities in recent years," Megumi Tezuka told Relaxnews.

"We have conducted a survey among our customers and asked men whether they thought this measure was in any way fair, but we were surprised at their very positive comments," she said. "Many of them said they felt uncomfortable when a woman went into the restroom immediately after them."

ANA's aircraft are presently being fitted with new "Women Only" signs on the doors of one lavatory aboard each aircraft, although the carrier has been quick to point out that in certain circumstances - for example, when a male passenger is not feeling well or when there are very few female passengers aboard the aircraft - then an announcement will be made to lift the women-only designation for the duration of the flight.

The ladies-only lavatories aboard a commercial aircraft is only the second of its kind in the world, the airline said, after Korean Air introduced a similar system last year.

"ANA Group will continue its efforts to improve services, providing our passengers with a highly comfortable flying experience and working to consistently exceed their expectations," the airline said in a statement.

JR