Emirates reveals A350 ‘S Lounge’ business class

With Emirates’ first Airbus A350 ready to take wing in early January 2025, the Gulf carrier has finally shared a look at the business class cabin which will crown the modern twin-aisle jet.

Emirates will begin flying the A350 in January 2025.

To perhaps nobody’s surprise, Emirates is standardising on the same “next generation” business class as its Boeing 777 refit – a seat which the airline now appears to be re-branding as the ‘S Lounge’, a design “inspired by the Mercedes S Class for an exceptional travel experience.”

Emirates' new A350 business class.

This appears to be a slightly glam version of the Boeing 777 seat, with some fresh touches such as wireless charging on the shelf next to each passenger joining familiar Emirates business class traits such as a mini-bar.

A self-serve snack bar at the rear of the business class cabin will be stocked with fresh fruit, sandwiches and sweet treats.

The 4K HD video screen supports Bluetooth audio streaming to a passenger’s own headphones or earbuds, althoguh this isn’t exclusive to business class – Emirates says Bluetooth audio and 60w USB-C charging are available at every seat from tip to tail.

The A350 also sports electric window blinds which can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button, with a dual-blind system in business class and premium economy offering two shaded options.

There’ll also be fast and free WiFi through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band broadband satellite network.

• All Emirates Skywards members will receive free access to text-based messaging apps 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.

All that said, and as our report details, what Emirates touted as a “next generation” business class is more like a last generation seat which makes only a few concessions to the modern era – yet has a distinct lack of privacy, especially in seats right next to the aisle, along with a shortage of personal storage space around the seat.

Emirates' "next generation" 777 business class.

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 – including the latest doored suites from Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and from mid-2025, neighbour and rival Riyadh Air.

Emirates' "next generation" 777 business class.

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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 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

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.