Emirates' new business class debuts in seven days: goodbye old 2-3-2, we won't miss you

Sunday, August 11 will be a special day for Emirates, the Dubai-based company will in fact fly for the first time the new business class cabins on board its 777/300s.

Around the world, when you think of Emirates, the first thing that comes to mind is the A380, the shower for first-class passengers and the bar for everyone sitting in the upper deck of the giant of the skies.

In everyday life, however, the fleet also consists of nearly 100 777 and on board these planes it is not all as WOW as one would logically expect, in fact here is one of the Worst business class cabins in the world.

Over the years I have flown several times on the smallest aircraft in the Emirates fleet, but always and only first class e, I confess, I have never flown business class aboard an Emirates plane.

The reason is simple, on the A380 the economy is spacey, the best in the world, and when I booked business then I always ended up upgrading with points in First. I always avoided the 777 except to fly in First on special routes, those where the gamechanger flies Or on the route to Muscat, the shortest in the entire EK network.

New business class on Emirates' 777, no spoilers at the moment

Between delays in 777/9 deliveries. e need to modernize the EK fleet launched a billion-dollar plan that led first to refresh the A380s, with the installation of Premium Economy, and Then to start the update of the "triple 7" And just on Sunday, August 11, we will see the first fruit of this investment.

To date Emirates, when we are 7 days away from the takeoff from Dubai of the EK flight to Geneva, has not released any updates or details of what is likely to be the new business class standard of the future. Not only on these 777s, but also on the upcoming A350 and then on the new flagship i 777/9.

Currently, if you book the new business class the only confirmation you receive is the 1-2-1 configuration, instead of the old 2-3-2 and nothing else. There is still no iconic virtual tour that allows the passenger to see his seat and choose the best position on board.

The only clue is therefore the map of places showing a checkerboard layout, with a small cabin with only 10 seats immediately behind the Gamechanger e then the main cabin with 7 rows for a total of 28 seats. Otherwise we know only what EK has anticipated in recent months:

• Emirates' new business class is produced by Safran
• All passengers will have direct access to the aisle
• The seat becomes a completely flat bed, each passenger will have more than 110cm of personal space
• Each chair will have top-of-the-line technology (23″ TV screen) , a personal minibar, a large coffee table, charging outlets and ample storage
• It will feature a small bar, a first on the 777s and unique or nearly unique in the aviation world

The most surprising thing about this situation is that unlike all the other carriers Emirates has not announced with photos or renderings what the seat will be, the configuration, the colors. If I think that Qatar showed the new QSuite, when it is almost two years away from its debut, but also to All the other carriers who announced their new products well in advance, Emirates on the contrary did nothing of the sort and as happened with premium economy on the A380 will simply give the details the moment the first plane takes off.

All new or an upgrade of the A380 seat.

Communications from Emirates have been sibylline. They could be interpreted as a restyling in a color scheme similar to the latest version of the seat featured on the A380.

Or an upgrade of the current chair and not a totally new product. For example, EK never mentioned a door or suite, but as we have been seeing for 4 years now all new products, except in rare cases such as ITA's A330/900neo, they have the door as an option.

Will it be "just a new business?

The curiosity is also to find out, what else will be new inside the fuselage of the Boeings destined for this mid-service redesign. EK will probably try to have a common family feel among the entire fleet. Colors, styles, and (perhaps) seats.

Will there be a gamechanger refresh? what will change for the economy? all questions bound to be answered in less than 7 days and can't wait to get on board, hoping that EK won't play tricks and change my car as happened with the Italian debut of the A350, originally scheduled for autumn and instead now moved to January 1, 2025.

It will be two years before it gets to the whole fleet

According to the company's statement, it takes two weeks of work for each plane. In 14 days or less, there will be First Class cabin renovation, The installation of 38 new business class seats., as well as 24 of the last premium economy seats, along with 256 Economy Class seats.

In total, 81 Boeing 777s will be refurbished as part of Emirates' investment in its retrofit program,

• skywards