Emirates A350 business class: dazzling or disappointing?

After the underwhelming reveal of Emirates’ “next generation” Boeing 777 business class, the Gulf carrier is playing its cards close to its chest on the forthcoming Airbus A350 business class – leaving observers to question if this will be dazzling or disappointing.

‘Dazzling’ would be spacious modern private A350 business class suites which bring the fight to Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and soon Riyadh Air, not to mention Cathay Pacific’s 777 Aria Suites among others

And ‘disappointing’? That would be easy: just roll out the exact same business class seat as chosen for Emirates’ Boeing 777 refit, which has been described as an “overdue yet underwhelming” upgrade.

Yes, the old 2-3-2 layout and the dreaded middle seat made way for a more common 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access for every passenger – but as our report details, what Emirates touted as a “next generation” business class is more like a last generation seat which makes a few concessions to the modern era.

Emirates' "next generation" 777 business class.

But there’s a distinct lack of privacy, especially in seats right next to the aisle, along with a shortage of personal storage space around the seat.

So while Emirates’ latest 777 business class is a huge step up from the previous product, it does little to close the gap against best-in-class competitors.

Emirates' "next generation" 777 business class.

What does this mean for Emirates’ A350 business class?

The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, told media on the sidelines of the mid-year IATA conference in Dubai that Emirates was working towards standardising its business class with a 1-2-1 layout across the fleet, ahead of the arrival of the 777-9 (which now appears to be a 2026 proposition).

Emirates also confirmed French multinational aerospace specialist Safran will supply new business class seating for the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 fleets, in a US$1bn program.

Safran is behind Emirates’ premium economy seat, while a heavily customised version of the original Safran SkyLounge serves as Emirates’ A380 business class.

Safran's relationship ship with Emirates stretches back to the original A380 business class.

That sparked hopes the new Emirates 777 business class might be shared between the 777 refit and the 777-9 deliveries, and be drawn from Safran’s published portfolio of business class seats. 

A stand-out of this is the Unity platform, with forward facing seats wrapped in high walls and a sliding door “to provide best in class comfort (and) privacy.”

Safran's Unity platform retains a forward-facing 1-2-1 arrangement favoured by Emirates.

Unity has already been chosen by Qantas for its Airbus A350 business class, which will feature on non-stop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York beginning in late 2026, while Air India also opted for Safran's Unity as its transformative international business class.

Qantas chose the Unity seat for its forthcoming A350 business class.

So will Emirates’ new Airbus A350 business class be the same as the renewed Boeing 777 business class, or does the airline have something very different and very special up its sleeve?

A spokesperson for Emirates tells Executive Traveller the airline is not sharing any further information on its A350 at this stage – a response which could be taken either way.

For now, all we know is that delivery of the first Emirates A350 is now due in October 2024, having been pushed back from August/September, according to Emirates Chief Operations Officer Adel Al Redha, speaking with the UAE’s Khaleej Times. Edinburgh remains tipped for the A350’s inaugural from 4 November.

Five A350s are expected in the Dubai hangars by the end of this year, with a steady stream of deliveries forecast to reach 50 by the end of 2027.

The first Emirates A350 is now due in October 2024.

Emirates A350 seat map

Emirates has confirmed the A350 seat map as follows:

• 32  business class flatbeds (in eight rows of 1-2-1)
• 21 premium economy recliners
• 259 “generously pitched” economy seats

Emirates' A350 will include the airline's popular premium economy class.

There’ll be no first class in the Emirates A350s, with the primo private suites remaining the exclusive domain of the larger A380s and Boeing 777s.

And judging by past comments by Emirates President Sir Tim Clark, the A350s may even incorporate a small “social area” for business class passengers.

“Social areas have now become a bit of a signature for us,” Clark has previously told Executive Traveller.

While obviously not as sizeable or swish as the airline’s iconic Airbus A380 bar and lounge area, “we’re trying to continue what we’ve always done, albeit with smaller real estate to work with (compared to the A380). But there’ll be something... a sort of convivial area where people can go and gather, and pick up whatever they want to eat or drink.”

Emirates A350 free WiFi

Something else to look forward to is that all Emirates A350s will offer fast and free WiFi, through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band satellite network.

Claimed as “the world’s first and only globally available broadband network,” it will serve up high-speed connectivity to every seat.

All Emirates Skywards members will receive free access to text-based messaging apps (such as WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger and WeChat) for the whole flight.

Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members in business class will enjoy full unlimited Internet access, as will Skywards Platinum members in premium economy and economy.