Emirates goes two-class to hike 777-200LR seating

Emirates is to increase the seating capacity on its Boeing 777-200LR fleet, by converting the three-class interior to a two-class cabin.

The carrier's president, Tim Clark, disclosed the plan on the sidelines of the Dubai air show.

Emirates has 10 of the long-range -200LRs with a 266-seat arrangement. This layout comprises eight first-class, 42 business-class and 216 economy-class seats.

But Clark says the 10 aircraft will be converted to a two-class cabin with 302 seats. He has not detailed the specific split between business and economy.

He says, however, that the change will involve revamping the business-class section to eliminate the centre seat in the current 2-3-2 configuration and fitting a 2-2-2 arrangement instead.

Emirates had unveiled a new first-class product at the show which will initially be installed on a number of 777-300ERs.

Clark says the -300ER revamp will be the "template for the future", stating that – while individual capabilities, such as wireless connectivity power, will change – the layout is "essentially what's going to happen" to the Emirates fleet over the next few years.

(David Kaminski-Morrow - FlightGlobal News)