Emirates Plans Business Class Suites With Doors For Boeing 777X

It would appear that Emirates has plans to introduce an actually competitive business class hard product on its Boeing 777Xs. However, I’m a bit confused by how we’ve gotten to this point.

Emirates will debut new business class on Boeing 777X

Executive Traveller met with Emirates President Tim Clark, and talked about the carrier’s future business class plans. Emirates is of course massively reliant on the Boeing 777X for fleet renewal, as the airline has 205 of these jets on order, and they’ll be the long term replacement for the Airbus A380.

The aircraft has been a headache for airline customers, though, given the delays — it was initially supposed to enter service in 2020, and now it won’t enter service before 2026 at the earliest.

When it comes to the onboard product, we know that Emirates plans to offer its “game changer” first class on the 777X. This was introduced in 2017, and so far has only been installed on a total of nine 777-300ERs. Presumably by the time it’s fitted on 777Xs, it’ll feature upgraded tech.

But what about in business class? Well, it sounds like Emirates has plans to finally introduce business class suites with doors, once these planes are delivered. According to Clark, the airline had a new business class product ready to launch back in 2019, with the expectation that the 777Xs would be flying in 2020.

In the meantime, the airline went back to the drawing board, to introduce a new product that rivals the best products available nowadays. We don’t have any more details about what Emirates has come up with yet, though I think it’s safe to assume the product is being designed in partnership with Safran, as the two companies have renewed their longstanding contracts.

Assuming that we’re potentially a year or so from the 777X maybe entering service, you’d think that this product would more or less be ready to go and finalized. I can’t help but think that it might just be the same business class product again, but with doors and even better tech.

What I can’t make sense of with Emirates’ plans

I think Tim Clark is one of the most brilliant people in the industry, and I also think Emirates is one of the world’s best airline brands, and has an amazing halo effect. However, what I can’t wrap my head around is why Emirates has been waiting so long to introduce a new, cutting edge business class.

Emirates is currently reconfiguring its Boeing 777s with a new business class, and Emirates is taking delivery of new Airbus A350s. So despite new business class seats being introduced, and having a long term place in Emirates’ fleet, the airline continues to install seats that certainly aren’t competitive with the best out there.

Look, I’d argue that Emirates doesn’t need to introduce an amazing product, given the company’s overall brand. If Clark said “we have an amazing brand and there’s no need for these bells and whistles,” I’d agree with him. But I find it strange how Clark essentially argues you have to have business class suites with doors nowadays, yet he’s acting as if the 777X is the only plane on which these seats could be installed, and like there’s nothing the airline could do differently.

I think it’s no different than what’s going on with Emirates’ new first class. The airline introduced the product back in 2017, and so far it has only been installed on nine 777s. Yet even as the airline now goes back and reconfigures 777s, it’s not introducing the new first class.

Bottom line

Emirates reportedly plans to introduce business class suites with doors, when those planes are delivered in 2026 and beyond (or who knows when). However, in the interim, Emirates is continuing to install what can only be described as pretty average business class seats, even on newly delivered aircraft.

I don’t necessarily think Emirates is wrong for doing what it’s doing. What’s surprising is that Emirates’ President is frustrated the airline can’t introduce a better product sooner, when the airline very much could…

What do you make of Emirates’ Boeing 777X plans?