Emirates begins refurbishment of Boeing 777 aircraft, including new business class and premium economy cabins
Early July marks the start of a major project United Arab EmiratesThis week, the airline will carry out a comprehensive upgrade of its Boeing 777 fleet.
These improvements will bring a host of interior improvements to the jets. Most notably, dozens of Emirates 777s will finally feature premium economy cabins—not to mention some much-needed upgrades to their business class cabins.
The first refurbished Emirates 777 will be launched in early August, Emirates announced on Monday. The refurbished cabin will appear on the airline’s August 11 nonstop flights (EK83/84) from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Geneva Airport (GVA).
Want more airline specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free bi-weekly Aviation newsletter.
With each 777 refurbishment taking about two weeks, the other two refurbished 777s are expected to enter service in mid-September. They will initially operate the airline’s nonstop Dubai service to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) on September 1 (EK312/313) and Brussels Airport (BRU) on September 11 (EK183/184).
Major renovation plan
The cabin overhaul is part of a larger interior renovation programme the Dubai-based airline has planned.
In the May, TPG reported The airline’s 81 777s, along with 110 Airbus A380s, will get cabin upgrades in the coming years as part of a larger $2 billion investment.
Improved 777 cabin
To match the revamped first class cabin, Emirates’ new 777 business class cabin will include 38 new business class seats. Notably, they will be arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access.
This is a significant improvement over the 2-3-2 configuration you see on many 777 jets today — like this business-class layout on the current 777-300ER.
Daily News
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers to get the latest news, in-depth guides, and exclusive offers from TPG experts
The airline said Monday that each cabin on its refurbished 777s will “borrow inspiration” from its flagship A380.
Including the staggered configuration in business class, which you can now find on Emirates’ flagship jumbo jets.
“The champagne leather seats are identical to those on our newest Emirates A380 aircraft, with detailed stitching and soft padded headrests,” an Emirates spokesperson told TPG on Monday.
Related: Get value for money in Emirates First Class: Bottomless champagne and endless caviar
Each seat in business class features a touchscreen and in-seat entertainment center with 23-inch screens, and passengers will have access to a minibar for in-flight snacks and refreshments.
Meanwhile, the jet will also have 24 top economy seats — an additional cabin that none of the airline’s 777s currently offer. But Emirates’ premium economy cabin on the A380 has been highly rated, winning at TPG Awards 2023.
Fleet overhaul schedule
Emirates currently operates premium economy cabins on its refurbished A380s to several US airports, including New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Emirates executives said the airline hopes to be able to serve 36 cities globally with the refurbished cabins (including a premium economy option) by February 2025.
Along with cabin upgrades on its 777 and A380 aircraft, Emirates’ fleet is getting a further boost as the first Airbus A350 is expected to take to the skies in September, the company said on Monday.
Read more related:
