Emirates to upgrade Airbus A380 economy but rules out 11 abreast seating
By David Flynn, June 2 2014
IN BRIEF | Emirates is investigating new economy seats for its Airbus A380 fleet but has ruled out plans for 11 abreast economy seating, putting pause to fears of a superjumbo sardine squeeze.
"It puts a middle seat in the five arrangement which is not very attractive," Emirates president Tim Clark said of his decision to nix an extra economy seat in the middle of what's currently a 3-4-3 layout.
"Imagine you've got a problem and you have to keep on getting out and going to the loo."
Airbus is proposing a new floorplan for future A380 purchases with 558 seats plus further 'optimisation' to 11 abreast seating
Read: Airbus supersizes the A380 superjumbo
Rather than piling more passengers into the cheap seats, Clark is looking to upgrade economy class seating, including boosting the size of each seta's video screen to 14 inches.
"Economy is a question of trying to get better ergonomics out of the seat design and try to enhance the comfort levels at the same time as take weight out of the seats" Clark told The Sydney Morning Herald on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association annual meeting in Doha, Qatar.
Read more: Emirates rejects squeezing more seats into A380s
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1518
14 inches. WOW!!!! Honestly I do not give a damn want size of screen – I watch only one program anyway (you guess it right – are we here yet?). Space is only estate at 10,000m!!! Punt intended indeed.
Etihad
23 Jan 2013
Total posts 175
Perhaps my eyes deceive me, but it looks like they've axed the business/first bar and lounge.
Going backwards while Etihad takes a leap forwards.
Etihad
23 Jan 2013
Total posts 175
Not only that: they appear to be axing the 1-2-1 business seat layout in favour of a 2-2-2 layout.
Major backwards step.
09 May 2014
Total posts 8
Did you actually read the article and did you notice that the layout is by Airbus not EK. Maybe AusBT needs to charge a thought bubble tax for those who can't read the articles correctly before commenting.
Etihad
23 Jan 2013
Total posts 175
Jstewart: honest mistake. Quite a long day here. I admit I thought it was odd.
However, there is a nice way to correct someone and your way of correcting someone.
Your proposed tax might cost, but manners are always free.
09 May 2014
Total posts 8
Ben
I applaud emotion and sticking it to airlines and others who take our money and don't deliver, I.e. QF. But once written the damage is done and dilutes the message when they do deserve a bollocking, I.e QF.
Sorry you felt offended.
Regards
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Ben: actually, your mistaken observation is quite understandable – I'll amend the image caption just to highlight that this isn't the Emirates A380, as I can well imagine other people making a similar mistake at first fast glance.
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 580
Gettng over two people to get to the aisle from the middle of a block of 5 is no different to getting out from a window seat in a block of 3 (except that you have the extra option of going out the other way if people are asleep).
Or am I missing something? Happy to see them resist the temptation of extra seats, but the rationale seems strange.
09 May 2014
Total posts 8
The alleged benefit of the widow seat isn't there. Only one person leaning on you and taking up all your space or the ability to stare at water or black sky for 10+ hours.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 341
It was my understanding that Airbus was planning to reconfigure the side panelling so that seat width would still be 18in with the 11 across seating. Not exactly sardines then when compared to the B787 seating of 17in that most airlines are opting for (and the trend to squeeze 10 across in the B777-300ER)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Feb 2013
Total posts 13
Just would respectfully like Emirates to reconsider adding premium economy to the A380 and elsewhere. There's definitely room upstairs at the back and as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines are going to introduce this maybe they could think again on this. Doesn't have to be more than a couple of rows for for those of us who cant afford Business but would like a bit more legroom etc and it would mean more folk choosing them for long haul particularly those who could join their global network at far flung airports like Glasgow.
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