Emirates has today revealed the new cabins for its Boeing B777 fleet.
The headline change is the new fully-enclosed private suites in First Class “inspired by Mercedes-Benz”, but all three cabins – economy, business class and first – have been changed, and there is an upgraded inflight entertainment system of over 2,500 channels of on-demand entertainment.
First Class
Created in collaboration with Boeing, Rockwell Collins interior systems, Panasonic, Jacques Pierre Jean Design studio and Seattle-based design firm Teague, each fully enclosed first class suite suite has a floor-to-ceiling sliding door and “design features inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class”. The new colour palette is of soft greys, cream and champagne.
Laid out in a 1-1-1 configuration the suites have up to 40 square feet of personal space, enough room so that passengers can change in the privacy of their suites even after the bed has been made. The suite has an overhead compartment, and a full length cupboard for hanging clothes.
The seat can be placed into what Emirates calls a “zero-gravity” position “inspired by NASA technology, giving a feeling of relaxation and weightlessness”.
For those suites in the centre of the cabin, Emirates has introduced “virtual windows” which project the view from outside the aircraft using cameras. In the other suites, binoculars are available for customers who want to explore the sky outside their windows.
Passengers communicate with the cabin crew, or request for room service using the video call function. The suites also come with a service window where customers can be served drinks and canapes undisturbed.
The suites have a 32-inch Full HD LCD TV screen or can project content from their own devices. The suites come with new Bowers & Wilkins Active Noise Cancelling E1 headphones.
Each suite is fitted with an amenity kit which features a luxury Byredo skincare collection, Hydra Active moisturising pyjamas, and Bulgari amenity kits.
The design philosophy of the Mercedes-Benz S- Class has apparently been in design details such as soft leather seating, high-tech control panels, and mood lighting.
Emirates and Mercedes-Benz have extended their partnership to provide a fleet of the S-Class cars as part of its complimentary Chauffeur-drive service. Emirates First Class passengers arriving or departing in the UAEin a Mercedes-Benz S-Class car.
Business class
The new business class is in a 2-3-2 configuration – unpopular because of the enclosed middle seat requiring that passenger to climb over the aisle passenger when the seats are full reclined.
The seat has a pitch of 72 inches and moves into a fully-flat sleeping position.
It also has touchscreen controls for the seat and inflight entertainment system, several personal lighting options, privacy panels between seats, a shoe stowage area, footrest, and a personal mini-bar.
The design and shape of Emirates’ Business Class seat onboard the new 777 was also inspired by the interior of a modern sports car, the airline says, with a diamond stitch pattern on the full leather cover, ergonomically designed headrest, and a sleek overall look and feel.
The new business class was unveiled in March last year at the trade fair ITB in Berlin.
The latest Business Class specifications:
- 42 roomy, comfortable seats that convert into a fully flat bed in 2-3-2 configuration
- Seat pitch of 72” apart, recline to a 78” long lie flat bed, 20.5” width
- Electronically operated footrest and lumbar support
- Adjustable headrest
- A 23” HD LCD screen
- Touchscreen controls for the seat and inflight entertainment system
- Several personal lighting options
- Privacy panels between seats
- Shoe stowage area
- Personal mini-bar
- USB A for smart phone charging
- USB C for data transfer to the screen and for smart phone charging
- PC power outlet for charging personal devices
- Bulgari amenity kit bags that include signature Bulgari fragrances and lotions in eight brand new designs.
Economy class
As with the existing Boeing B777-300ER fleet, economy class is in a 10-across configuration.
The ergonomically designed seats come with full leather headrests that have flexible side panels and can also be adjusted vertically for optimum support, and now feature “a colour palette of soft greys and blues”.
The latest Emirates 777 aircraft with these new features will enter commercial service on 1 December, making its debut on flights to Geneva and Brussels.
It is not yet known whether the new cabins will be retrofitted to the existing B777-300ER fleet.
Business Traveller Middle East Editor Dominic Ellis is at the Dubai Air Show and shares his thoughts below on Facebook.
“Clearly this is a niche product, in more ways than one.
With only eight or nine aircraft likely to offer the suites by the end of 2019, even many HNWIs may struggle to experience it, which may create consistency challenges the airline has faced before with its myriad 777 and 380 configurations. We are told it will fly on Brussels, Geneva and Chicago initially and possibly Perth and Brisbane, though of course we can expect more routes….”
Below is the Emirates promotional video for the new first class suites.
An artistic motif representing the Ghaf (prosopis cineraria) tree, is used as a design highlight throughout the aircraft.
An indigenous evergreen plant, the Ghaf is a considered the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, and has deep cultural and ecological significance.
