Emirates is presently within the strategy of retrofitting 191 of its current plane. Whereas that is primarily being completed in an effort to introduce premium financial system on these jets, there are adjustments coming to different cabins as effectively. I wished to go over the small print, particularly as Emirates is that this week beginning the method of reconfiguring its first Boeing 777, and people are the planes most in want of a refresh.
How Emirates will retrofit 191 planes with new cabins
Emirates has plans to retrofit a complete of 191 plane with new interiors. This features a whole of 110 Airbus A380s and a complete of 81 Boeing 777s. As Emirates views it, this may permit the airline to maintain flying these planes effectively into the mid-2030s (which is roughly when Emirates plans to retire its A380s).
Emirates’ fleet presently consists of round 250 jets, in order that signifies that over 75% of the Dubai-based provider’s fleet shall be getting new interiors, which is kind of spectacular. Emirates began this retrofit challenge on the Airbus A380 in 2023, and is now beginning this challenge on the Boeing 777 as of July 2024.
When all is alleged and completed, Emirates could have put in 1,894 refreshed top quality seats, 11,182 upgraded enterprise class seats, 8,104 subsequent era premium financial system seats, and 21,814 financial system seats. Along with that, carpets and stairs shall be upgraded, and cabin inside panels shall be refreshed with new tones and design motifs, together with the ghaf bushes which might be native to the UAE.
Right here’s how Emirates President Tim Clark describes these plans:
“We’re topping up our multi-billion greenback funding within the retrofit programme to introduce cutting-edge cabin merchandise on extra of our A380s and Boeing 777s, demonstrating a transparent dedication to elevating the client expertise with a best-in-class suite of merchandise throughout each cabin. The addition of extra plane fitted with our latest era seats, up to date cabin finishings and a recent color palette additionally marks a big step in making certain extra prospects can constantly expertise our premium merchandise throughout each plane varieties.”
Emirates Airbus A380 retrofit plans
Emirates is reconfiguring 110 Airbus A380s with new interiors. Emirates has already retrofitted 28 plane since beginning this challenge, that means that 82 extra A380s shall be getting a refresh. This challenge takes round 16 days per plane, and we don’t have a timeline for when this shall be full.
Emirates’ reconfigured Airbus A380s function 56 premium financial system seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration. These seats are on the very entrance of the decrease deck, changing financial system seats.
These Emirates A380s function lots of the similar cabin finishes that you simply’ll discover on Emirates’ six latest A380s that have been delivered, which already boast premium financial system. These planes have the brand new design motif, which is a bit much less “in your face” than the previous Las Vegas within the Nineteen Nineties decor that Emirates is understood for.
Emirates Boeing 777 retrofit plans
As of July 2024, Emirates is beginning to reconfigure 81 Boeing 777s with new interiors. This may take round two weeks per plane, and it stays to be seen when this work shall be full.
Emirates’ reconfigured Boeing 777-300ERs are anticipated to function 326 seats, comprised of:
- Eight top quality seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration
- 38 enterprise class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration
- 24 premium financial system seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration
- 256 financial system seats, in a 3-4-3 configuration
As a degree of comparability, presently Emirates’ 777-300ERs have 354 seats, so this represents a capability discount of 28 seats. Primarily we’re seeing 48 financial system seats eliminated, 4 enterprise class seats eliminated (in an effort to accommodate all-new cabins), and 24 premium financial system seats added.
A brand new 777 enterprise class is probably the most thrilling improvement
Whereas Emirates is after all recognized for being an incredible airline, there’s one main hole within the premium passenger expertise. Particularly, the Boeing 777 is the spine of Emirates’ fleet, but most 777s have angled enterprise class seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. That’s woefully uncompetitive.
The excellent news is that Emirates lastly plans to introduce a brand new absolutely flat seat with direct aisle entry on 777s, which is lengthy overdue:
- We all know that the brand new seat is being designed in partnership with Safran
- We all know that Emirates plans to streamline seats throughout its fleet, and it’s anticipated that comparable enterprise class seats can even be put in on newly delivered Airbus A350s and Boeing 777Xs
- The brand new enterprise class shall be in a staggered configuration, so my hypothesis is that the almost certainly possibility is that Emirates has chosen the Safran Unity seat, although we must always discover out for certain fairly quickly
What I discover most disappointing is that Emirates doesn’t have plans to put in its new 777 top quality on extra planes, as that is presently solely accessible on 9 777s. It’s unhappy to assume the airline is retrofitting 777s with plans of retaining them round for a decade, however doesn’t plan to introduce a first-class product that was first rolled out in 2017.
I’ve gotta say, Emirates is giving Lufthansa a run for its cash on this product rollout. Simply 9 planes having this product after seven years feels extra like a gimmick than a very good religion product rollout.
Backside line
Emirates has plans to reconfigure 191 current jets with new cabins, together with 110 Airbus A380s and 81 Boeing 777s. The A380 retrofit challenge has been underway for effectively over a yr, whereas the 777 retrofit challenge is now getting began, as of July 2024.
This represents over 75% of Emirates’ fleet, so we’re seeing fairly some updates. Probably the most vital developments listed here are that every one plane are getting premium financial system, and on prime of that, 777s are getting a brand new enterprise class. It’s simply too dangerous Emirates isn’t introducing its new top quality on 777s.
What do you make of Emirates’ fleet retrofit plans?
