Aviation

Emirates Unveils Plans to Retrofit 191 Aircraft, Including Boeing 777 Upgrade

Image:Emirates

Emirates announced today an ambitious expansion of its aircraft refurbishment program, signaling its commitment to providing an unparalleled travel experience for its customers.

The initiative now includes refurbishing an additional 43 A380s and 28 Boeing 777s, bringing the total number of aircraft undergoing full refurbishment to 191.

Originally slated for 120 aircraft, comprising 67 A380s and 53 777s, the program’s extension reflects Emirates’ dedication to maintaining the excellence of its fleet. The Boeing 777 remains the backbone of the Emirates fleet, while the A380 continues to be a customer favorite, serving as the airline’s flagship.

Emirates has already retrofitted 22 A380s, with plans to commence the interior refresh of the first Boeing 777 in July. Each Boeing 777 will undergo approximately two weeks of refurbishment before re-entering service. Notable upgrades include a refreshed First-Class cabin, new Business Class seats featuring an updated 1-2-1 seating configuration, and the introduction of 24 Premium Economy seats, expanding premium options for travelers.

With the addition of the Premium Economy cabin, Emirates’ Boeing 777 will feature 332 seats across four classes: eight First Class suites, 40 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 260 Economy Class seats. To accommodate the new Premium Economy cabin, 50 Economy seats will be removed.

Emirates’ in-house Engineering Centre is managing and executing the refurbishment work for its fleet, with over 250 project personnel working tirelessly, supported by 31 major partners and suppliers. These partners have established workshops both onsite and offsite to deliver the refreshed cabins efficiently.

Upon completion of the retrofit program, Emirates will have installed 8,104 next-generation Premium Economy seats, 1,894 refreshed First Class suites, 11,182 upgraded Business Class seats, and 21,814 Economy Class seats across its fleet.

Emirates currently operates refurbished A380 aircraft with Premium Economy on various routes, including to destinations such as New York JFK, Los Angeles, London Heathrow, Sydney, and Dubai. The airline plans to expand services with the new cabin to Osaka in early June.

By February 2025, Emirates aims to offer Premium Economy services to 42 cities, with the introduction of the A350 to its fleet in September and the refurbished Boeing 777s set to serve more cities with the highly sought-after cabin later in the summer.

Aviation

Boeing Faces New Setbacks as 777X Delays Extend and scraps B767-300F

Boeing’s challenges continue as employees halted production due to a strike, creating new obstacles for delivering aircraft to customers. The company now faces financial losses from delays in the delivery of its boeing 777x aircraft.

Boeing recently announced that the new delivery date for the 777-9 will be in 2026, with the freighter variant scheduled for 2028. This news has been frustrating for airlines that have committed to and are waiting for the aircraft.

Mega Comparison of Boeing 777x vs A350-1000 Aircraft

The Boeing 777X program, which began in early 2019, was initially delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions. Subsequent issues, including defects found during testing, have placed the program under scrutiny by the FAA, which insists on the aircraft meeting all safety standards before entering service. Boeing is now facing pressure from both airlines and investors.

Boeing 777x Delay

New Commercial Airplanes expects to incur pre-tax charges of $3.0 billion related to the Boeing 777X and 767 programs.

The company forecasts a $2.6 billion pre-tax charge due to the updated timeline, which accounts for delays in flight testing for the 777-9 and the impact of the IAM (International Association of Machinists) work stoppage. The first 777-9 delivery is now expected in 2026, with the 777-8 freighter following in 2028.

Exploring the Boeing 777x: Highlights from the Debut at …

In addition, Boeing plans to conclude production of the 767 freighter, resulting in a $0.4 billion pre-tax charge. From 2027 onwards, the company will solely produce the 767-2C aircraft for the KC-46A Tanker program.

In August 2024, Boeing grounded its 777X test fleet after detecting a failure in a key engine mounting structure during a routine inspection. The new boeing 777x, powered by the GE9X engine, is the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, but this issue has caused further setbacks.

Boeing 777x, A close-up of the engine, landing gear, and wing

Comparison of 777x vs A350

Meanwhile, the Airbus A350 continues to secure new orders from airlines, becoming a strong competitor in the wide-body aircraft segment. While the a350 vs b777 offer similar ranges, the 777X is designed to carry a heavier payload.

In other developments, Boeing has hinted at starting production of a new mid-sized aircraft, the Boeing 797, which would likely compete with the Airbus A321 XLR.