Summary
- Emirates is set to unveil a new business class product for Boeing 777s, featuring a 1-2-1 configuration giving all passengers direct aisle access and even an onboard bar.
- The product will first be deployed on refurbished Boeing 777 services to Brussels, Geneva, and Tokyo.
- Emirates will retrofit the new cabins onto 81 of its 140 Boeing 777s as part of its multi-billion dollar retrofit program.
Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has released some details regarding a new business class product currently in its final stages, set to be unveiled to the world next month. The airline has also announced that the product will be first deployed on refurbished Boeing 777 services to Brussels, Geneva, and Tokyo.
Featuring a 1-2-1 configuration
Emirates Airline, while featuring an incredible business class onboard its flagship Airbus A380s, has maintained a business class product with an unusual 2-3-2 configuration on its fleet of Boeing 777s so far (save for the 10 Boeing 777-200LRs, which feature a 2-2-2 configuration). While the product is still extremely comfortable, in recent years, the industry has moved to accept the 1-2-1 / 1-1-1 configuration as the industry standard.
Related
Flight Review: Emirates Boeing 777-300ER Business Class London Heathrow To Dubai
While the carrier operates 6 Airbus A380s daily on this route, it also deploys a seventh service operated by the Boeing 777-300ER.
On Monday, the airline’s first Boeing 777-300ER commenced its refurbishment process. The carrier expects the aircraft to re-enter commercial service on August 11th as not only Emirates’ first four-class 777 aircraft but also the first 777 to feature its brand-new business class product.
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
The refurbished 777 will feature:
|
Class |
Number of Seats |
Configuration |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
First (F) |
6 / 8 |
1-1-1 / 1-2-1 * |
In line with the airline’s existing product |
|
Business (J) |
38 |
1-2-1 |
This new product will also be used on upcoming A350s and 777x aircraft |
|
Premium Economy (W) |
24 |
2-4-2 |
In line with the airline’s existing product |
|
Economy (Y) |
256 |
3-4-3 |
In line with the airline’s existing product |
*It is still to be confirmed if the airline will utilize its Game-Changer first class on refurbished aircraft.
Emirates Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy President Adnan Kazim stated:
“Borrowing inspiration from our flagship A380 in every cabin, our Boeing 777 with revamped interiors boasts the very best in customer comfort and will feature modern design details and signature cabin finishings, with a new Business Class cabin that provides more privacy for our customers, in addition to other thoughtful touches that underscore our exceptional value proposition.”
Related
Flight Review: Emirates A380 Business Class From London Heathrow To Dubai
Of the six daily Emirates A380 flights between Dubai and Heathrow, EK4 is one of the four services featuring new cabins and Premium Economy seats.
The first 3 destinations
Emirates will deploy its new business class products onto select services to Europe and Japan first before rolling them out to more destinations as more 777s are refurbished and the A350-900s enter service.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The new cabins featured on these refurbished aircraft (and new upcoming aircraft) are curated in partnership with Safran, with whom Emirates made deals worth over 1.2 billion dollars during the 2023 Dubai Airshow.
The services will be as follows:
|
Service |
Route |
Entry Into Service |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
EK83 |
DXB – GVA |
August 11th |
One of two daily Emirates services |
|
EK84 |
GVA – DXB |
||
|
EK312 |
DXB – HND |
September 1st |
Only daily service |
|
EK313 |
HND – DXB |
||
|
EK183 |
DXB – BRU |
September 11th |
One of two daily Emirates services |
|
EK184 |
BRU – DXB |
Business Class passengers on these services will have direct aisle access due to the 1-2-1 nature of the configuration and will feature Emirates’ world-renowned ICE entertainment system on a 23-inch HD screen. Passengers will also have access to a mini-bar, as seen on the airline’s A380 and latest 777 products. Furthermore, customers will also have access to an onboard bar where they can help themselves to mid-flight snacks and refreshments.
Photo: Emirates
The onboard bar will probably be a variant of Emirates’ current bar on their Boeing 777-200LRs rather than the Airbus A380s.
Overall, Emirates will be retrofitting these new cabins onto 81 of the airline’s 140 Boeing 777s as part of its multi-billion dollar retrofit program, which is the largest ever seen in the aviation industry.
A350 delays
Though Emirates was expecting to receive its first Airbus A350-900 shortly, with the entry-into-service date initially set for September 15th, this has now been delayed due to Airbus’s supply-chain issues. Hence, the airline now aims to have the aircraft type in service by early November, with the first flight to Edinburgh followed by expedited service launches to other destinations such as Bahrain and Kuwait.
Considering Edinburgh (EDI) was originally meant to launch on November 4th as the seventh A350 destination, minor delays could affect the aircraft type’s appearance on six of the previously planned services.
Regardless of the delays, with the A380s and Boeing 777s undergoing cabin retrofits and Emirates’ plan to bring the A350s into service in an expedited manner, passengers flying with the airline will soon see significant cabin changes across the board and have a more enjoyable and luxurious experience onboard.
-
Emirates
- Loyalty Program:
- Emirates Skywards
