Emirates Airline’s first retrofitted Boeing 777 is set to enter service today, August 7, marking a significant milestone for the airline. The aircraft, ahead of its expected deployment schedule by four days, will be flying its inaugural journey with the new enhancements on flight EK83 to Geneva. Passengers on this flight will experience the aircraft’s all-new business class seats and premium economy cabins.
The refurbishment of the Emirates Boeing 777, which began in early July, was completed in an impressive 37 days. The overhaul involved a comprehensive reconfiguration of the aircraft to introduce a new premium economy cabin consisting of 24 seats. These seats, crafted with cream leather and accentuated by wood panel finishings, offer superior comfort with a 38-inch pitch, 19.5-inch width, and an 8-inch recline. Additionally, they feature six-way adjustable headrests, providing passengers with ample space to stretch and relax.
Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, expressed enthusiasm about the new offerings. “Our latest Business Class cabin offers customers a sense of exclusivity and privacy, complemented by our best-in-class suite of onboard products,” said Clark. He further highlighted the premium economy cabin, which he described as injecting modern sophistication into the flying experience with a design focused on enhanced comfort.
Upgrades in Business Class
The revamped business class cabin of the Emirates 777 presents a warm and inviting atmosphere with thoughtful refinements aimed at enhancing privacy for passengers. Inspired by the design elements of Emirates’ iconic A380 experience, the cabin features soft leather cream seats with champagne trim and lighter wood paneling. The 38 seats, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, convert into spacious flatbeds, offering up to 78.6 inches of recline. Each seat includes a padded headrest, personal mini-bar, dining or work table, multiple charging outlets, and a personal 23-inch HD screen for in-flight entertainment. A small bar is also available for passengers to grab mid-flight snacks and refreshments.
Enhancements in Economy Class
The new economy class cabin boasts 256 seats in a soothing palette of soft greys and blues. The ergonomically designed seats feature full leather headrests with flexible side panels, adjustable vertically for optimal support. Emirates’ signature ghaf tree motif is prominently displayed throughout the cabin interiors, adding a touch of elegance.
Future Deployments and Investments
Emirates plans to refurbish an additional 80 Boeing 777 aircraft as part of its $3 billion investment to enhance customer experience. Following the deployment to Geneva, the upgraded Boeing 777s will soon be introduced on routes to Tokyo Haneda and Brussels, with more destinations to be announced.
Currently, Emirates operates its refurbished aircraft to various destinations, including New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, London Heathrow, Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangalore, Sao Paulo, Tokyo Narita, Osaka, Geneva, and Dubai.
The extensive refurbishment project was conceptualized, designed, and executed in-house by a dedicated team of 175 engineers and technicians at Emirates Engineering in Dubai. The project involved over 10 major partners and hundreds of skilled workers, highlighting its significant impact on the local aviation ecosystem. The first Boeing 777 refurbishment took 37 days and 18,000 man-hours, with teams working around the clock to complete the overhaul from the removal of interiors to the reinstallation and testing of new seats and cabin components.
