Japanese Airline To
Introduce Women-Only Lavatories
Japanese airline All Nippon Airways has said
it is to introduce women-only lavatories on
its international routes starting Monday.
The move comes in response to "numerous
requests from passengers for this service,"
the company said in a statement.
Many women called for the airline to give
them their own lavatories in a 2007 survey
of customers, ANA spokesman Justin C. Massey
said, "They didn't list any specific
complaints. ... It was just more a matter of
general preference."
One women-only lavatory will be designated
in the rear section of the passenger cabin
and will display a pink version of the
universal sign for a ladies' room. While men
will be encouraged to use other facilities,
women can still use any lavatory available.
While restricting men from using the
women-only bathroom, the airline has spelled
out exceptions to the rule, such when
required for safety reasons or when a
passenger is not feeling well or "when there
are very few female passengers and the
women-only designation has been lifted for
the flight." There are no plans to designate
men-only lavatories, Massey said.
There has been mixed reaction to the
announcement on FlyerTalk, an online
community for frequent fliers. "The
lavatories are scarce enough already. The
last thing we need is more restrictions of
choice," one poster wrote. Another said,
"I've never understood gender segregation of
single-person bathrooms." |
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