Emirates boss plans doored suites for 777X business class
Sliding privacy doors are finally coming to Emirates’ business class.

Executive Traveller exclusive
Emirates will debut new-design business class suites with sliding privacy doors on its Boeing 777X jetliners, says airline president Sir Tim Clark – although when those aircraft will take to the skies remains in question.
“The enclosed suite was our idea right back in the ‘90s when we put it on the A340-500 (in first class) and then others have taken the suite (and) introduced them into business class,” Clark told Executive Traveller today during a visit to Melbourne.
“So you see these things coming in, and if you haven’t got them, then people are going to say to you, well, you really have to have them. And the people, the business community, the premium cabin community love them.”
However, ongoing delays to the 777X project – Boeing now says the first 777-9 deliveries won’t be until at least 2026 – has seen Emirates already reviewing plans for this next-gen business class to ensure it’s competitive with the latest suites of rivals, and Boeing could be forced to pick up the tab for any changes.
“We’re having another look at it again,” Clark confirmed.
“We are fixed on the product, have been for some time, in the belief that we were going to have it ready in October of this year for flying. Clearly that’s not the case.”
“So if we have to stop everything and then introduce new designs of products, we will have to be able to do that and that’s the price they will have to pay for the issues that they’ve created for us, like seven-year delays.”
“Right now I would have had 107 777s on the original contract, which was signed in 2013. I haven't got one.”
Emirates scrapped its initial 777X business class design
Those delays have already seen Emirates rip up its original plan for the 777X cabins, at a cost of up to €30 million, and “start again,” Clark revealed.
“In July 2019 I went onto the first 777-9. It was without the ‘game-changer’ first class suites, which hadn't been built, but everything else was ready to go.”
“And so here we are six years later, there was no way we could leave things as they were because technology – particularly in the customer facing side of things – moves at quite a pace, whether it be WiFi connectivity, the TVs themselves and the seats themselves.”
“So we just had to throw ‘em all away. Just on that we had to make a payment of about €20-30 million to the manufacturer.”
“But in the end, it’s just one of those things you have to do.”
While waiting on Boeing to hand over the keys to Emirates’ first 777X jets, the airline was also forced to embark on an extensive and costly upgrade of its current Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A380 fleet, “a financial impact that’s US$4.5 billion cash out of our own resources.”
This included doing away with the dated 2-3-2 business class layout of its 777s, which Clark admitted “long since should have been abandoned,”
“I see all around in the business today, (airlines) just starting to come through doors on business suites… but we were slipping. So the damage it does to us is a brand effect.”
Also read: Emirates is developing a “game-changer” economy seat
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 464
Was Emirates’ decision to update the cabins on A380s more about extending their life because there is no replacement?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Nov 2011
Total posts 27
This is great news, I was surprised they didn't have suites with doors on the a350, especially with the popularity of Q Suites which have been around since 2017. At first I thought they didn't want to cannibalise their first class product, but maybe it's just a cost saving having such a similar product to the a380s.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Mar 2015
Total posts 95
I think before we discuss seats, doors or anything else, it would be great if the plane was licensed to fly ... with passengers...
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 503
That's not actually how it works. Airlines have to lock in their cabin designs, not just seats but everything like lavs, galleys, carpets, lighting etc well in advance of their planes being built, so that everything can be ready when the plane is ready. In the case of the 777X, Boeing already has something like 50 777-9s built, they are just waiting for final regulatory & safety approvals, once that's given the planes can start to be delivered to customers. So the airlines can't just sit on their hands waiting for the delivery and then start to think about seats etc. This has to start well in advance.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1028
Did anyone ever think Boeing would fail and cause so many issues for the airline industry?
Starting to remind me of the Roman Empire
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 782
Sad but true. But at least the CEO and Board got their bonuses (every cloud . . .).
04 Sep 2019
Total posts 68
The downfall of Boeing is well recorded in the history books and started when Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged to form the one company
One was run by engineers, one was run by accountants.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 468
I've never understood why people make such a fuss about doors on suites. It's just an illusion of privacy - anybody walking past can just look over the top!
03 Oct 2011
Total posts 41
@John Phelan,
Have you flown in a Qsuite? It has high enough walls door, and a door that closes, and provides significant additional privacy. It's a game changer. Or have you only flown in suites with "checkbox" doors and walls, such as British Airways' new business and first products, and Qatar's "Business Suite" product on their 789 aircraft? These have technically present walls and doors, too low for any privacy, and doors that don't actually close.
03 Oct 2011
Total posts 41
There are game-changing suites with walls and doors, such as Qatar's Qsuite product. These provide significant enhanced privacy, especially important on long-haul routes where sleep is important. Then there are the suites with "checkbox" doors and walls, such as British Airways' new business and first products, and Qatar's "Business Suite" product on their 789 aircraft. These have technically present walls and doors, too low for any privacy, and doors that don't actually close. Let's hope Emirates chooses a product that improves on the Qsuite rather than a poor also-ran.
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