Emirates New Boeing 777 Business Class Has No Middle Seats

DUBAI- Emirates Airline (EK) has finally addressed one of the biggest complaints about its Boeing 777-300ER Business Class by retiring the outdated 2-3-2 cabin layout.

The airline is now rolling out a new 1-2-1 configuration across its fleet, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger.

The retrofit programme, launched in late 2024, has already been completed on 25 of 120 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This change marks a long-awaited shift for Emirates, aligning its offering more closely with competitors like Qatar Airways (QR) and Finnair (AY).

Photo: Emirates

Emirates 777 Business Class With No Middle Seats

For years, Emirates’ 777 Business Class was seen as a weak spot in its otherwise premium-heavy fleet. The 2-3-2 layout left many passengers in the middle seat, which felt out of place when rivals were offering privacy-focused suites and fully flat beds.

The new cabin fixes this by switching to a 1-2-1 arrangement, with direct aisle access from every seat and a 78-inch lie-flat bed. While the product itself is based on a Safran design first introduced in 2008, Emirates has refreshed the finishes with cream leather, darker wood accents, and larger 23-inch HD entertainment screens.

This upgrade doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it solves the most pressing issues: personal space, comfort, and ease of movement, MainlyMiles shared in its exclusive review.

A travel blogger flew one of the newly configured Boeing 777-300ERs operated by EK65 from Dubai (DXB) to London Stansted (STN). The aircraft, registered A6-EPU, is just under nine years old.

The Business Class cabin now seats 40 passengers across two sections: a smaller three-row forward cabin and a larger seven-row cabin behind the galley.

Every seat has aisle access, but the layout creates four distinct seat types:

• True window seats (A/K) for maximum privacy.
• Aisle-aligned window seats (B/J) offering easier access.
• A couple of middle pairs (E/F) are best for those traveling together.
• Separated middle seats (D/G) for solo travelers.

Seat 10A was selected for this sector, a true window seat with better privacy compared to the aisle-adjacent version.

Boeing 777 Emirates | photo- Emirates

Cabin Details and Seating Comfort

The new Business Class cabin features:

• Lie-flat beds extending to 78 inches.
• Leather upholstery with plush cushioning.
• Adjustable seat controls with preset positions.
• Large tray tables, though aisle access is blocked when extended.
• Limited storage options are forcing reliance on overhead bins.
• A personal minibar, more of a novelty than functional storage.

Power outlets include two USB-C ports (27W), a USB-A port, and a universal AC socket. While adequate for phones and tablets, laptops require an AC outlet for effective charging. Wireless charging is not available on this retrofit.

Amenities and Service

Daytime Dubai–Europe flights do not include amenity kits, though overnight or long-haul routes receive BVLGARI kits stocked with aftershave, skincare, deodorant, razors, and dental kits. Slippers, eye masks, and noise-cancelling headsets are provided at every seat.

Business Class passengers can also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi when logged in with their Skywards account. Despite using the older OnAir satellite system, connection speeds reached up to 24 Mbps during testing, outperforming some competitors.

Two toilets serve the 40-seat cabin, equating to a 20:1 passenger ratio, slightly less generous than rivals such as Singapore Airlines (SQ).

Food, Drinks, and In-Flight Entertainment

Meals on EK65 included breakfast after departure and lunch before landing. Emirates’ Business Class continues to serve a wide variety of wines and champagnes, with menus distributed alongside hot towels and welcome drinks.

The ICE in-flight entertainment system remains a standout, offering more than 4,000 hours of content. The 23-inch HD screens support Bluetooth headphone pairing and are complemented by a tablet controller for seat and IFE functions.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Where to Find the New Emirates 777 Business Class

As of August 2025, 25 Boeing 777-300ERs feature the new layout, with refits continuing at a rate of one aircraft every two weeks.

Emirates plans to retrofit 81 aircraft in total, while the remainder will be replaced by upcoming Boeing 777-9 and 777-8 jets from 2026.

Destinations already served by the new cabin include:

• London Stansted (STN) – EK65/66, EK67/68
• Boston (BOS) – EK237/238
• Johannesburg (JNB) – EK765/766
• Hong Kong (HKG) – EK382/383
• Seattle (SEA) – EK229/230
• Madrid (MAD), Lisbon (LIS), Vienna (VIE), Miami (MIA), Riyadh (RUH), and more.

Upcoming routes include Kuala Lumpur (KUL) from October 15, 2025, and Phuket (HKT) from December 1, 2025.

Photo: Emirates

Bottom Line

Emirates has taken an important step forward with this retrofit. The outdated 2-3-2 layout is gone, replaced by a 1-2-1 design that finally meets international Business Class standards.

While the product isn’t revolutionary – storage remains limited, and the seat design dates back over a decade – the essentials are right. Passengers now enjoy full-flat beds, aisle access, and an upgraded entertainment experience.

For those booking Emirates in 2025, spotting a refitted 777 is no longer disappointing. It’s a Business Class cabin that, while not market-leading, now stands as a competitive and comfortable choice.

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