Get ready for 5 minutes of airborne shower!

London, July 29 : So you thought flying first class was only about cushier seats and five star catering? Well, now you can add a five minute inflight shower to the list.

Passengers travelling in Emirates' inaugural superjumbo Airbus A380, which will fly between Dubai and New York from Friday, are being offered the first inflight shower on a commercial aircraft.

However, the first-class passengers stepping into the cubicles will have to make it quick, for they will be given just five minutes each under the water jets.

These two "shower spa" sections of the cabin will also have heated flooring, leather seating and exotic flowers. In fact, 15in screens inside the showers showing flight progress and live pictures from the aircraft's tail would certainly make the bathing experience 'short and sweet'.

There is also an installed traffic-light system, which would show bathers how much time they have left in the shower.

"The showers are regulated through software that gives people a five-minute shower, which is ample in most cases. But if you're on amber and your hair's full of shampoo, you want to get moving," The Scotsman quoted Tim Clark, the Emirates' president, as saying.

This innovation comes, as Emirates tries to beat rival Singapore Airlines, which offered private cabins and double beds when it became the A380 operator last year.

Emirates is also offering bars for first and business class passengers, added on with sofas.

It said: "This is nothing short of an airborne hotel."

The double-deck aircraft will carry 14 first-class passengers, 76 in business class and 399 in economy. It will also operate on Dubai-Australia/New Zealand routes, potentially connecting with Emirates' daily Glasgow-Dubai Boeing 777 flights.

ANI