Gallery: Inside Emirates’ Retrofitted Boeing 777s

Emirates launched its new Boeing 777 premium economy cabin at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on Nov. 1. Aviation Week Network attended a launch event Nov. 4 to get a look inside one of the newly retrofitted 777s.

The airline is refurbishing 81 777s in-house at Emirates Engineering Center in Dubai. The refurbishments are part of a massive $4 billion retrofit program that also includes 110 Airbus A380s. Each aircraft is receiving new premium economy and business class seats, as well as refurbishments in the first class and economy cabins.

According to Emirates, each 777 refurbishment takes approximately two weeks. The project is being handled by more than 250 Emirates Engineering personnel, as well as 31 partners and 48 suppliers.

Emirates first began retrofits on the A380s in November 2022. The first 777 was inducted for the retrofit process in July and reentered service in early August. 

According to Emirates, the first refurbished 777 used a total of 33 m² (355 ft.²) of carpets, 340 laminate sheets, 300 liters of paint, 800 m of fabric for the economy class seats, and 8,000 ft.² of leather for the first, business and premium economy class seats.

The premium economy cabin has 24 seats in a 2-4-2 layout with features such as calf and footrests, in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table.

Premium economy seats also feature a 13.3-in. entertainment screen.

The retrofitted 777 business class cabins feature either 38 or 40 seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement. 

The seats feature wood paneling, personal mini-bars, multiple charging outlets for personal devices and a 23-in. entertainment screen.

The economy class cabin has 256 seats with a blue and gray color palette, as well as full leather headrests with adjustable side panels.

The first class cabin has eight private suites with floor-to-ceiling doors, zero gravity seats with soft leather that Emirates says is “reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class,” temperature controls and mood lighting, as well as virtual windows for the interior suites.

The first class suites have a 32-in. high-definition entertainment screen and Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones. On either side of the screen are compartments with snacks, beverages and reading material. A large lighted mirror flips up from the tabletop, and underneath is a luxury amenity kit.

The seats fold flat into a bed with a mattress, pillow and faux sheepskin blanket.

The entire aircraft displays Emirates’ signature ghaf tree motif, such as the one pictured here in the first class cabin.

During a ceremony to reveal the new premium economy at ORD, Emirates’ Vice President for USA, Matthew Jones (pictured here), noted that the airline now flies the product daily between ORD and Dubai.

The retrofitted Boeing 777s will be operated on six routes in the U.S. In addition to Chicago, Emirates will be launching retrofitted Boeing 777s with the new premium economy in Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle, Miami and Newark between now and the end of February 2025.

As of December 2024, Emirates’ retrofitted Airbus A380s operate on four U.S. routes from New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Houston. Learn more about the new premium economy cabin in Emirates’ A380s here.