Emirates’ Various Boeing 777 Seating Configurations

Emirates is famous for having the world’s largest Airbus A380 fleet, with over 120 currently in service. However, the real workhorse of the airline, driving its momentous growth for more than three decades, has been the Boeing 777 (B777). From the first order for seven aircraft placed in 1992, Emirates has gone on to order a total of 345 B777s across all types, including its current outstanding order for 205 Boeing 777Xs.

Emirates currently operates 132 Boeing 777s, the largest fleet of the world’s largest twinjet. However, not all 777s are alike, and some significant changes are coming to the fleet in the months ahead. So, let’s take a closer look at Emirates’ various Boeing 777 seating configurations.

Photo: Emirates

Boeing 777-200LR

Emirates has a small fleet of 10 leased Boeing 777-200LRs, which were introduced to the fleet in 2007. Consequently, the -200LRs are the oldest aircraft in the fleet, with an average age of 16 years, but Emirates plans to continue operating them into the 2030s.

Photo: JetKat | Shutterstock

While these aircraft can fly well over 10,000 miles, the longest route for the -200LRs is Dubai (DXB) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) at just 7,400 miles. Instead, Emirates prefers to utilize them on higher-density, regional routes from Dubai (DXB) such as Mumbai (BOM), Gujarat (AMD), Bahrain (BAH), Bagdad (BGW) and Tehran (IKA) (all under 1,200 miles).

Related

Least Numerous Aircraft Type: The Top Routes For Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LRs

Emirates employs its ultra-long-haul Boeing 777-200LRs on both short and long routes.

The -200LRs have a two-class layout and don’t carry Emirates’ first-class product. Interestingly, the business class features a 2-2-2 configuration (unlike the -300ERs), with each seat having aisle access and including Emirates’ latest ‘Game Changer’ seat.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

Boeing 777-300ER (two class)

Aside from the -200LRs, the remaining 122 Boeing 777s in the fleet are the Boeing 777-300ER series. They are younger than the -200LRs, with an average age of just over 11 years, and the last -300ER was delivered in 2018. All remaining orders for Boeing 777s are for 205 of the 777X series, comprised of 170 777-9s and 35 777-8s.

The -300ERs are all the same in terms of size and performance but have five different subtypes based on differing seat layouts. One of these subtypes is a group of 17 -300ERs configured with just a two-class layout, similar to the -200LRs. These higher-density aircraft have 386 economy seats – even more than some of the A380 configurations – and are utilized primarily on routes to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa, where demand for economy seats is higher.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

Boeing 777-300ER (three class)

The remaining 105 300ERs are all configured in a three-class layout, with minor variations to the number of economy seats, ranging from 304 to 310. The first class on these “standard” 300ERs consists of eight private suites arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. Each suite is cocooned with partial-height screens and folding vented privacy doors, and the middle suites are specifically designed to accommodate passengers traveling together.

Photo: Emirates

Like the two-class -300ERs, the business class layout is also 2-3-2, which means that despite the high cost of the fare, there is still a chance that you could end up with a middle seat. This has been heavily criticized recently as the industry has increasingly moved toward layouts with aisle access for all business class seats. The seats also show their age, with the faux wood paneling getting negative attention from multiple review sites. As a result, Emirates is currently working on a massive retrofit of its Boeing 777-300ER business class product.

Diagram: AeroLOPA

Boeing 777-300ER retrofit news

The Boeing 777 retrofit program is going to bring substantial changes to the -300ER fleet:

• New first class: The first class is being converted into six fully enclosed suites in a 1-1-1 layout, with virtual windows in the middle suites.
• New business class: Emirates is moving away from the 2-3-2 layout and replacing it with a 1-2-1 layout for direct aisle access from all seats. The new seats, which will be in line with the upcoming Boeing 777-X and Airbus A350 products, will also include a minibar of drinks and snacks, and the business class cabin will also get a refreshment and social area similar to what the A380s currently have.
• Premium economy: Like the A380 fleet, the 300ERs are due to be fitted with a premium economy cabin comprising 24 seats in a 2-4-2 layout. The economy class is expected to be reduced to 256 seats to accommodate this.

The first refurbished -300ER is set to take to the air on the EK83 service from Dubai to Geneva (GVA) on August 11, 2024. It will be followed shortly after that on flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Brussels (BRU) in early September and further destinations later in the year as the rest of the -300ER fleet completes its retrofits.

Photo: Emirates

Related

Emirates Reveals First 3 Routes For Its Refurbished Boeing 777s With 1-2-1 Business Class

The first refurbished 777 is set to re-enter service on August 11th.