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Emirates Airline to retrofit 105 aircraft with premium economy; flags new business class
November 17th 2021
Emirates Airline is embracing the premium economy cabins it once rejected with a massive 18-month program to retrofit 105 aircraft. Read More » The program will see the airline’s acclaimed premium economy product fitted to 52 A380s and 53 777s at the airline group’s engineering centre in Dubai. Emirates said it also was considering installing a new business class on its B777s with customised seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. “Emirates is investing in this retrofit programme to ensure we continue to serve our customers’ needs and provide the best experiences in the sky,’’ Emirates president, Sir Tim Clark, said. “Since we introduced our premium economy seats a year back, we have received a hugely positive response. Customers have been amazed by the quality and comfort. As Emirates has done with our signature first, business and full-service economy travel experiences, we intend to further develop our premium economy [offering] into a distinctive Emirates experience that is unmatched in the industry.” Clark said more details about its planned new business class product will be revealed “in due course”. At the conclusion of its retrofit program, Emirates will have 111 777s and A380s offering premium economy seats, including the six A380s that will have been delivered to the airline with four cabin classes by December. The retrofit of the B777s will result in five rows of economy class seats located just behind Business Class being removed and the installation of 24 premium economy seats in 2-4-2 configuration. On the Emirates A380s, 56 premium economy seats will be installed at the front of the main deck, also in 2-4-2 layout. The Gulf carrier’s premium economy seats are upholstered in top quality leather and offer a generous 40-inch seat pitch with a width of 19.5 inches and an eight inch recline. Separately, Clark and Boeing have held discussions about the delayed delivery of the 777X with the airline boss saying he hoped for more clarity on the subject in the next nine to 12 months. The Gulf carrier was not moving away from the aircraft, Clark said and added Boeing had told him it was hopeful the aircraft would be certified in mid-2023.
