In 2024, we’ll see what’s likely the industry’s single most overdue premium cabin product improvement…
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Emirates plans direct aisle access 777 business class
While Emirates is generally considered to be one of the best airlines in the world, the company gets quite the halo effect from its Airbus A380s. Those planes have first class suites, business class seats with direct aisle access, shower suites, and a bar.
The carrier’s Boeing 777s are a totally different story, as most of these jets have angled flat business class seats that are in a 2-3-2 configuration. Getting an angled middle seat in 2023 on one of the world’s best airlines is quite disappointing.
The good news is that this will finally be changing. Emirates is in the process of retrofitting 120 of its planes to add premium economy, and make some other cabin updates. While the airline is starting with reconfiguring A380s, the plan is to reconfigure 777s starting in the summer of 2024.
The airline has hinted at how there will be some changes to the carrier’s 777 business class, though Emirates has stopped short of confirming it would have a totally different product with direct aisle access. Fortunately we now have confirmation of that. Sam Chui interviewed Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, who is quoted as saying the following:
“Next summer, we will start retrofitting 53 Boeing 777-300ERs. All will go through the premium economy retrofit. We are readjusting our business class in terms of the look and feel and even the configuration from the existing 2-3-2 to 1-2-1 configuration.”
That’s exciting, as it means we’ll finally start to see a 777 business class hard product with direct aisle access in 2024. Admittedly not even all aircraft are expected to be retrofitted, so we’ll still be dealing with Emirates’ old 777 business class for years to come.
Emirates aiming for product consistency going forward
While Emirates’ fleet currently consists exclusively of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, the airline is undergoing some major fleet changes in the coming years. In the next couple of years, Emirates is planning on taking delivery of Airbus A350-900s, Boeing 787-9s, and Boeing 777Xs.
Emirates’ plan is reportedly to focus more on product consistency. So that means that the cabins that will be installed on retrofitted Boeing 777s will likely be the same seats that we’ll find on Emirates’ other newly delivered aircraft.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being very curious as to what business class product Emirates selects. Whatever new product Emirates chooses, it sounds like the airline will be installing it for many years to come, so hopefully Emirates has a cutting edge product.
I’m curious if Emirates selects one of the “generic” best business class seats out there, or creates its own. Emirates has certainly had the time to plan for this product, so I hope the airline doesn’t let us down. I’m still hoping that Emirates makes the decision to install its new first class on these retrofitted 777s. It was now introduced six years ago, and is still only available on nine aircraft. That’s ridiculous.
Bottom line
In mid-2024, Emirates will begin retrofitting 53 of its Boeing 777s with new cabins, including the introduction of premium economy. What’s also exciting is that we’ll see a new business class in a 1-2-1 configuration, with direct aisle access.
The expectation is that this new business class product will also be offered on Emirates’ newly delivered aircraft going forward, to create some product consistency. So whichever seat Emirates chooses, this will have major implications.
What are you hoping for with Emirates’ new business class?
Are they reducing the passenger capacity with 1:2:1 why not 2:2:2 seating?
Maybe they have consulted LH and are getting not one, but six new seats in J.
Looking forward to seeing this on 9 planes after 3 years, just like the new F product on the 777!
"Coming in 2024" is quite misleading, this rollout will take forever...
in October i pay for my seats 380 i got 777 not happy 777 is bad Aircraft i pay ex for my seats and Aircraft i like my money back for 3 seats 42H text me
Who are you expecting to text you?
Not before time. Hate the 2-3-2 configuration.
The worst thing is lying diagonal and not straight ahead.the only ones that you can lie straight is the bulkhead seats . The seats for sleeping need to have a thicker mattress as well .
Wouldn’t they just be installing the outdated product with the current A380 business product- easier for them - probably a lot of inventory sitting in some warehouse -:)
Thank goodness. Couldn’t come soon enough. Since they waited this long, anything without a door will automatically disqualify them from being considered “one of the world’s best”. We need to make Emirates great again!
I really don’t understand who is flying Emirates business class. I consistently find business class fares from Europe to Asia on AF/KLM and LH that are at least 25-30% cheaper than EK. And, yes - I’d say even LH business class is a better (hard) product than the one on EK 777s.
I totally agree. Also European airlines have a huge advantage with 1 long flight ( good opportunity to sleep/rest ) to Far East instead of 2 short-ish flights ( Europe - Dubai - Far East vs Europe - Far East ). For that reason I don't fly with Qatar/Emirates/ Etihad. Especially that they became ridiculously expensive.
I've flown Business twice this year on Saudia (FCO-SIN) and Gulf Air (CDG-BKK); not only on fares vastly cheaper than EK but with 1-2-1 or 2-2 configurations throughout (I made sure that my Saudi flights were scheduled to operate with a 787).
The seats will be the exact same that you find on their A380 business class cabin. Nice to see Emirates finally embrace the 1-2-1 concept. However, nothing new to see here.
And the source for that is _______?
“Getting a angled middle seat in 2023 on one of the world’s best airlines is quite disappointing.”
Getting an angled seat in a 7 across Business Class Cabin in 2023 disqualifies an airline from being considered “one of the world’s best.”
So if they're essentially going from 2-3-2 (7 seats) down to 1-2-1 (4), how are they planning on making up for the loss of the business class revenue? Or are they going to jack up the prices?
The cabin capacity won't decrease that much. Emirates currently has 35 seats between doors 1 and 2 on the 773, whereas United managed 32 (Polaris) in the same space with direct aisle access. It's all about a more clever use of space.
Well it’s not exactly like that. With 2-3-2 products your seat extends directly into the seat in front, so the seat pitch has to be much larger. With 1-2-1 products there is a stagger, and the stagger creates an empty space that the seat behind uses as a “feet cubby” essentially. So even though it’s going from 2-3-2 to 1-2-1 overall density isn’t impacted as much as you’d think.
They're updating them like how Apple updates iPhones
Wondering what those new seats gonna be. Not so bad chance that they install suite seats, not only because it's a trend, but also that the business class would be the highest class for their major future fleet - 787 and A350.
It's bad that they decided to re-configure only 53 of their 777s. At least more Emirates plane would feature new cabin not so long after from now - they're supposed to start...
Wondering what those new seats gonna be. Not so bad chance that they install suite seats, not only because it's a trend, but also that the business class would be the highest class for their major future fleet - 787 and A350.
It's bad that they decided to re-configure only 53 of their 777s. At least more Emirates plane would feature new cabin not so long after from now - they're supposed to start receive A350s from 2024, and 777X plus 787s from 2025 (777X might be delayed again, I guess) and while I'm not sure about what seats are they gonna have, but at least those won't install their current 777 angled seats.
They should also do the economy class. The seats are pretty outdated now.