The era of 2-3-2 business class is over – at least for Emirates – proclaims CEO Tim Clark, describing the Boeing 777 seating layout with a despised middle seat as "history".
Going, going, gone – 2-3-2 business class on Emirates' Boeing 777 jets
"What you see on the upper deck of the A380 is what's going to be in all our cabins from now on," Clark told Australian Business Traveller on the sidelines of the IATA aviation summit in Sydney.
"They'll all have mini-bars, 25 inch digital widescreens (and) cabinetry... the same config exactly," Clark said, although there's expected to be a refresh of the current A380 seat design in time for the Boeing 777X.
"We have introduced 2-2-2 on the Boeing 777-200LRs but they are at 72 inch (pitch), palatial in the cabin, so the step-over is not such a big problem."
Emirates' Boeing 777-200LR jets sport a 'palatial' 2-2-2 business class refit
"We're just dealing with the old fleet and then we will bring the new product across," he added.
Clark also shared first details of the airline's new premium economy class, which he described as a custom-designed 'sleeperette' seat with a 38-40 inch pitch to be fitted across the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet from 2020.
Read more: Emirates promises all-new ‘sleeperette’ seats for premium economy
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Oct 2013
Total posts 111
does this mean the coffins are coming to the 777? i cant stand them much prefer the seat of the 777 and the new mini bar seat much nicer
10 Apr 2015
Total posts 14
So 2-2-2 when others are 1-2-1?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jul 2017
Total posts 3
Does this include the EK 431 Bris to Dubai flight
08 Jun 2018
Total posts 1
I doesn't sounds good for any 2-2-2 business class seat alignment on B77W aircraft. It is out of day already!
13 Jan 2018
Total posts 3
I hope they'll have made the change by next March. My sister's visiting Australia for the first time and she's in business class on the 777 from DXB-ADL. I can't believe they have a 2-3-2 set up. WTF?
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