dailynewsnblog
A new era is incoming at 
Emirates, as the carrier will soon begin taking delivery of the Boeing 777X. With nearly 300 units ordered, most of which are for the larger 777-9 variant, it will be by far Emirates’ largest fleet, and when the first example arrives in 2027, it will debut updated cabins. Naturally, this will include improved economy seats as well as Emirates’ premium economy cabins, but the 777-9 will also feature an updated business class cabin. Furthermore, the 777-9 will feature an evolution of Emirates’ famed onboard bar, currently available on its Airbus A380 fleet.
Emirates has been rolling out a new business class seat, based on the Safran S Lounge, across its Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 fleets, while the Airbus A380 fleet will also be retrofitted with them. Renderings leaked from an Emirates promotional video, however, show a seat that appears much different and more competitive than the rather basic S Lounge. The bar is also major news, as the Boeing 777-9 is expected to eventually replace the Airbus A380 fleet, and Emirates’ A380s are famous for the bar, as well as the onboard showers for first class passengers.
Where Emirates Stands Today
Emirates currently holds orders for 270 Boeing 777X aircraft, split between 235 777-9s and 35 777-8s. In addition, Emirates is working with Boeing on a feasibility study for a stretched ‘777-10’, although this is far from an official launch. As per the carrier’s original contract, it should have received over 100 examples by now, but Emirates has yet to receive a single 777-9 due to program delays. This has meant that the famed airline has had to scrap its original seats and redesign the plane’s interiors. Most excitedly, this includes new business class seats as well as a lounge.
Emirates is currently installing the Safran S Lounge on its Airbus A350-900s and retrofitting 51 Boeing 777-300ERs along with 60 Airbus A380s with the same seats. While luxurious and modern, the S Lounge is a staggered seating arrangement that is quite similar to the Safran SkyLounge seats that have been installed on Emirates’ Airbus A380s for nearly 18 years and lacks privacy doors. Meanwhile, the 777s that haven’t been retrofitted feature a customized version of the Collins Aerospace Minipods, a seat that debuted in 2002, and is configured with either six or seven seats per row.
Emirates’ A380 fleet provides a strong halo effect on the brand, as these planes feature onboard showers for first class and an onboard bar for first/business class passengers. These were daring, unproven ideas at the time that have since become staples of the Emirates experience, but they’re possible primarily due to the size and design of the A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Therefore, it’d be difficult to replicate them on other aircraft, since space is at a premium.
Emirates’ Boeing 777-9 Business Class
In a video paying homage to Emirates’ growth and to its long-time president, Sir Tim Clark, the carrier leaked renderings of the business class seat that will be present on its incoming 777-9s. Most likely, the seats will be supplied by long-time vendor Safran, and they appear to be based on the company’s latest ‘Unity’ platform. Just like the S Lounge, this is a staggered product with direct aisle access, but Unity is differentiated by offering significantly more space and privacy doors.
The Safran Unity is already in service with Japan Airlines on its Airbus A350-1000s (albeit highly customized) and will soon begin flying on Qantas’ A350-1000ULRs and Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787-9s. Emirates’ 777-9 seats appear to have extremely high partitions, possibly rivaling the 52-inch (132 centimeter) high partitions in JAL’s A350 business class, and they also feature tall storage shelves. In addition, the rendering shows a drinks area within the shelf area, a wireless charging pad, and a touchscreen display for seat controls.
|
Aircraft |
Business Class Seat Model |
|---|---|
|
Airbus A350-900 |
Safran S Lounge |
|
Airbus A380-800 |
Safran SkyLounge Safran S Lounge (future) |
|
Boeing 777-200LR |
Collins Aerospace Minipods |
|
Boeing 777-300ER |
Collins Aerospace Minipods Safran S Lounge |
|
Boeing 777-9 |
Safran Unity (unconfirmed) |
Emirates’ latest aircraft feature Starlink WiFi and 23-inch (58.4 centimeter) 4K screens powered by the Panasonic Astrova, so the 777-9 is all but certain to include this as well. The center overhead bins have been deleted to make the cabin appear more spacious, and the seats also include motorized window shades. While it’s hardly revolutionary, these seats appear to be highly competitive and are a far cry from the current 777-300ER business class with middle seats.
End Of An Era: Emirates Cuts 62% Of Flights On Huge 615-Seat Airbus A380s
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An Onboard Social Space In The Emirates 777-9
In the same video showing the carrier’s Boeing 777-9 business class, Emirates also revealed renderings of a new social area. The rendering shows four seating areas on the right side of the aircraft, located behind the business class cabin, with a two-seat sofa installed longitudinally, along with single seating spaces parallel to the sofa and opposite each other. In addition, this area features a small lamp and magazines, located on opposite sides of the sofa. Furthermore, a remote control indicates the presence of a television.
It’s difficult to see, but the video also shows glimpses of what appears to be a self-serve drinks area, indicating that although the 777-9 will include a social space, it will not be staffed. In contrast, the Airbus A380 bar is staffed by a bartender, and this element is a major component of why Emirates’ bar has been so popular with passengers. Virgin Atlantic, for instance, has moved away from staffed bar areas on its planes, and passengers are visiting its unstaffed social lounges less often now. Therefore, it remains to be seen what Emirates’ strategy is with this space.
|
Aircraft |
Number |
|---|---|
|
Airbus A380s with onboard bars |
101 |
|
Boeing 777-9 |
270 (on order) |
Another interesting detail is that the lounge appears to be located directly ahead of a set of emergency exits, but it does not occupy the area in the way that the bar onboard the A380 does. As a whole, the lounge on the Emirates 777-9 appears far smaller than the bar on the A380, with less walking/standing space and with a less spacious ambiance. Passengers will mainly need to sit down, while the lack of staffing, if true, could diminish some of the shine.
The Emirates ‘Game Changer’ Suites
While the lounge and new business class seats are attracting headlines, it’s long been known that Emirates will install its ‘Game Changer’ first class suites on the 777-9. These first debuted in 2017 and remain one of, if not the best, first class products in the world. But despite being around for nearly a decade, only nine 777-300ERs feature this product, and the arrival of the 777-9 will therefore significantly upgrade Emirates’ first class offering across its network.
Currently, the 777-300ER features six Game Changer suites configured three-abreast, and they include floor-to-ceiling walls with doors. On the inside, these suites feature a lie-flat seat with a zero-gravity function, a full-height wardrobe, in-suite climate controls, a drinks cabinet, a vanity mirror, and a 32-inch (81.3 centimeter) display. In addition, the center suites feature virtual windows. Expect the 777-9 to largely feature the same product, but with updated technology.
The Airbus A380 includes showers for first class passengers, but it’s unlikely that this feature could be replicated on the Boeing 777-9. The shower area occupies a large space ahead of the passenger cabin where seats cannot be installed, and where most A380 operators either install large bathrooms or a lounge area. The 777-9 lacks this type of space, and in addition, carrying water adds substantial weight. The 777-9 is a smaller, lighter aircraft with less lifting capacity than the A380.
Why Does Emirates Keep Upgrading Its Airbus A380s?
The carrier has committed strongly to the superjumbo.
Emirates’ Product Strategy With The 777X
Emirates’ A380s have created a strong halo effect on its brand, in large part due to the flashy interior visual design, large screens, onboard bar, and first class showers. This has allowed the carrier to avoid investing heavily in the rest of its fleet. However, even the seats on the A380 are no longer cutting edge, and the superjumbo’s days are numbered. Eventually, the Boeing 777X will take its place, but the 777X doesn’t have the floor space to easily accommodate amenities like a bar or shower suites.
With the 777-9, we’re seeing Emirates take steps away from the A380 in terms of strategy and product. It’s strengthening its business class offering, which has long been a weak point for the carrier, while introducing what appears to be a scaled-down version of the A380’s bar. Meanwhile, Emirates is installing its fantastic Game Changer suites, which have had extremely limited availability so far, while the premium economy and economy cabins are also sure to be updated.
While Emirates’ A380s will remain exciting aircraft for both enthusiasts and passengers alike, the Boeing 777-9 will soon offer the best experience for Emirates passengers in all classes. Despite not being as flashy, with fewer or scaled-down amenities, the 777-9 as a whole will offer a more competitive experience across all classes, and will be Emirates’ most balanced plane from a product perspective.
