Dozens of Emirates Airbus A380s will be getting new business class seats. However, in typical Emirates fashion, you’ll want to manage your expectations.
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New Emirates A380 business class coming to 60 jets
In recent years, Emirates has been engaged in an aggressive cabin retrofit program. I’d say the two most significant changes are that the airline is rolling out premium economy throughout its fleet, and also that the airline is finally updating its outdated Boeing 777 business class.
However, we’ve also seen A380s get retrofitted, and that largely involves incremental improvements to the experience, in terms of updating finishes and improving tech. Along those lines, Emirates has announced the next stage of its cabin retrofit program, which involves updating the interiors of 111 jets, including 60 A380s and 51 777s.
I’d say the most interesting update here (beyond what has already been announced) is that A380s are actually getting new business class seats. Up until now, we’ve simply seen A380 seats reupholstered and refreshed a little bit, but not actually a full overhaul of these seats.
The good news is that as of August 2026, the airline will actually start installing new business class seats on its A380s. The bad news is that the airline is simply installing its new Airbus A350 business class seats on the A380s, which would be the S Lounge seating concept by Safran. These are the same seats that have been retrofitted on 777s in recent times.
So Emirates is ripping out its current staggered business class seats, and replacing them with… slightly updated staggered business class seats. There’s no denying that the new seats look more modern, and will also have updated tech, from 4K ICE entertainment screens, to USB-C and wireless charging, and more.
However, this is hardly a cutting edge product, especially when you consider that these seats will be installed in 2026-2027. There are no doors, and they don’t otherwise rank among the world’s best business class seats, as I see it.
Here’s how Emirates President Tim Clark describes these latest updates:
“Emirates’ retrofit programme is about continuously elevating standards across our entire fleet. Working with our long-standing partners, we’re taking this commitment a step further with the aim of delivering product consistency at scale, in tandem with next-generation innovations in seating, entertainment, and connectivity being brought into service with our newly delivered fleet. Our customers expect an excellent experience every time they fly Emirates, and this investment ensures we deliver on that promise in the years to come, wherever they travel with us.”
My take on Emirates’ new A380 business class
The passenger experience product geek in me is always disappointed by Emirates’ new hard products. I mean, it’s 2025, and the airline is still installing what’s ostensibly a basic staggered seat in business class?
But the reality is that Emirates can and does get away with it. Emirates is the world’s most profitable airline, and the folks there run a brilliant operation. They know what they’re doing. They’re not installing these seats because they don’t realize there are better seats out there. They’re installing these seats because they know they don’t have to install better seats, despite being hyper aware of what the competition is doing.
As I see it, there are a few reasons for this:
- Emirates has a massive halo effect from its Airbus A380 fleet, as passengers love the onboard bar, and the general vibe of the plane
- Emirates’ focus is now on consistency of product across the fleet, and there is something to be said for that, as it’s quite a contrast to some other airlines
- The reality is that Emirates’ network is scaled in a way where the airline runs a one-of-a-kind operation, and Dubai is an appealing place for people to transit, so that wins the airline a lot of business
If you ask me, the more disappointing thing about Emirates’ passenger experience is how the airline introduced its “Game Changer” first class in 2017, and eight years later, nine planes have that product. Emirates is simply choosing not to retrofit this on existing 777s, even as those planes otherwise go in for cabin updates.
Why? Well, the new first class reduces capacity by two seats, and I think Emirates realizes it can get away with selling those seats. Still, I find it a bit disingenuous how the airline so widely markets the “Game Changer” seats, while intentionally not installing then on most planes.
Bottom line
Emirates Airbus A380s are getting new business class seats starting in August 2026. In reality, these are just the seats that have been installed on the A350s, and which are also being retrofitted on the 777s.
These seats represent a huge upgrade on the 777, given that Emirates previously had angled seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. Meanwhile on the A380, these seats represent a very marginal upgrade, given that you have staggered seats replacing staggered seats.
I do wish Emirates would finally introduce an industry leading business class product, but it seems the airline doesn’t have to. If you get everything else right, people are perfectly happy with a good but not amazing seat.
What do you make of Emirates’ new A380 business class?
I'm confused why they would even both retrofitting at all. Since as you said, if they know they can get away with it, then there doesn't seem to even be a need to retrofit the A380s given how similar it is to the existing product already.
Sink or Swim! They've gotta keep up with those premium 763's DL's pushing around.
The only complaint I have about the existing A380 seat is the awful IFE screens to be honest.
Everything else works well, and the seats are very comfortable.
I'd be more than happy with their A350 seat as a replacement personally
I agree. I recently flew their A380 in First Class and while the screen was huge the quality was AWFUL.
Sir Tim Clark blames other airlines for the failure of the A380. Other airlines did not have deep pockets like Emirates. Emirates themselves cancelled their order for the last batch of A380s. If they wanted Airbus to continues production then they should have ordered at least 300 units instead of blaming other airlines. What I don't understand about Sir Tim Clark is that he has been waiting for the 777-9 for almost 7 years and...
Sir Tim Clark blames other airlines for the failure of the A380. Other airlines did not have deep pockets like Emirates. Emirates themselves cancelled their order for the last batch of A380s. If they wanted Airbus to continues production then they should have ordered at least 300 units instead of blaming other airlines. What I don't understand about Sir Tim Clark is that he has been waiting for the 777-9 for almost 7 years and he is still ordering more 777-9 but he refuses to order the A350-1000 because of defective engines when Qatar Airways and Etihad are flying those aircraft. Etihad ordered seven more A350-1000s.
If Boeing goes on with building 777-10 then that aircraft will flop just like the A380. Other airlines have not said that they want something bigger than the A350-1000 or the Boeing 777-9. It is only Emirates who is making noise for the 777-10 and just one customer is not going to make an aircraft profitable for the manufacturer. Boeing must be careful and focus on the 777-9.
Emirates is one of the most overrated airlines but to their defense, none of the A380 operators have doors in their business class. With this update, it’s going to be one of the better products on the A380.
BA along with Lufthansa would be the first to have doors on their A380s starting next year with their Club Suites, but would most paying customers would want to pay for BA/Lufthansa over Emirates?
And I feel like Emirates is more of a status symbol now like Mercedes.
I’d take Qatar’s business class on the A380 over Emirates’. Better seat, food, and bar. Shame Qatar flies it on such few routes.
@Aaron
Qatar Airways has 10 A380s but only 8 are in service. So they will definitely use them on few routes unlike Emirates who have more than 100 A380s in service.
Thanks for that, Captain Obvious.
I think you’re underestimating the quality of this hard product. Is it cutting edge? No, def not. But it feels very spacious, especially on the A380. For whatever reason, the seat being straight-forward versus angled makes it seem so much bigger. I’ll take the comfort and space of this product (plus the other soft product advantages) over the more “cutting edge” seats that just look and feel more cramped
@ BofA_Fan -- I don't think I'm underestimating it, and I think we're on the same page. I agree with you, the seat feels quite spacious, especially given how narrow the upper deck of the A380 is. It's a good seat, it's just not cutting edge, and when you introduce a seat in 2026-2027, you kind of expect it to be cutting edge.
given that seats are a 10 year investment for most airlines - esp. considering the time it takes from announcement of a product to installation - it is indeed hard to believe that they are not installing a suite product.
It is absolutely true, despite what many believe, that companies do not have to offer the latest cutting edge product in order to attract decent revenue. Some airline get that revenue premium through other mechanisms...
given that seats are a 10 year investment for most airlines - esp. considering the time it takes from announcement of a product to installation - it is indeed hard to believe that they are not installing a suite product.
It is absolutely true, despite what many believe, that companies do not have to offer the latest cutting edge product in order to attract decent revenue. Some airline get that revenue premium through other mechanisms while EK gets its revenue premium through size and and dominance of the Middle East market as well as through its strong brand.
People pay for the brand, not necessarily the seat. It's like buying a luxury car, people pay for the marque even if it has the most basic of options.
When you think about it, while incremental, it's still a significant upgrade to what one would get on Qatar and Etihad which is their main competition.
Significant is a huge overstatement , especially against Qatar
Qatar's business class on their A380 is 11 years old already, so Emirate's new seats would be a huge leap especially with the tech and creature comforts that come with it from huge 4K displays to wireless charging and Bluetooth audio.
If and when Qatar decides to install a new product on their A380s, now that would be something to watch. Until then, these seats would be a significant upgrade to what Qatar has on their A380s.
@Mike O.
Qatar Airways will not install new seats on their A380s. Their plan is to retire the A380s once they start receiving the 777-9 with first class seats. Qatar Airways will install first class on some of their 777-9s.
But luxury cars seats are not like Greyhound.