Is this Emirates’ new A350 business class?

Emirates will look to narrow the gap between business and first class on its new Airbus A350 jets.

By David Flynn, November 29 2023
Is this Emirates’ new A350 business class?

While Emirates is perhaps best known for its flagship fleet of Airbus A380s, the Gulf carrier has a newer and more modern plane on the way.

It’s the Airbus A350, and when this sleek twin-engine jet arrives in the middle of 2024 it will also mark the debut of an all-new Emirates business class seat.

This same seat may also feature on the looming Boeing 777 refit as well as the next-gen Boeing 777X fleet due from late 2025.

So what can travellers expect from the Emirates A350?

Emirates' A350 will see the debut of an all-new business class.
Emirates' A350 will see the debut of an all-new business class.

Breaking down the Emirates A350 order & delivery 

To date, Emirates has ordered 65 of the popular A350-900 model from Airbus, and is also considering a second order of up to 50 of the larger and longer-range A350-1000 version.

Speaking with media on the sidelines of November’s 2023 Dubai Airshow, Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said he was prepared to ink a deal for between 35 and 50 of the A350-1000 model if engine maker Rolls-Royce can address his concerns over durability and maintenance costs.

Emirates has pencilled in the delivery date of its first A350-900 for August 2024, Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim told journalists, with all 50 delivered “within a period of three and a half years, by mid-November 2027.”

You won't see first class suites on the Emirates Airbus A350.
You won't see first class suites on the Emirates Airbus A350.

The Emirates A350 will come in a three-class configuration of business, premium economy and economy; there’ll be no A350 first class, which will remain the exclusive domain of the larger A380s and Boeing 777s.

And don’t expect any changes to Emirates’ premium economy on the A350 – the seat is relatively new and highly regarded, and plays into Emirates’ desire to standardise the passenger experience across its fleet.

Emirates' A350 will include the airline's popular premium economy class.
Emirates' A350 will include the airline's popular premium economy class.

While Emirates has yet to reveal its A350 seatmap, based on similar three-class A350s flown by the likes of Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines we can roughly expect to see around 40 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats and 200 seats in economy.

And judging by past comments by Emirates boss Clark, the A350s will also incorporate a small “social area” for business class passengers.

“Social areas have now become a bit of a signature for us,” Clark has previously told Executive Traveller.

While obviously not as sizeable or swish as the airline’s iconic Airbus A380 bar and lounge area, “we’re trying to continue what we’ve always done, albeit with smaller real estate to work with (compared to the A380). But there’ll be something... a sort of convivial area where people can go and gather, and pick up whatever they want to eat or drink.”

The A350s will also sport Emirates’ latest “signature livery”, with a more dynamic flowing pattern on the tail plus branding on the wingtips.

Emirates' A350s will arrive with the same new livery as these A380s.
Emirates' A350s will arrive with the same new livery as these A380s.

Something else to look forward to is that all Emirates A350s will offer fast and free WiFi, through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band satellite network.

Claimed as “the world’s first and only globally available broadband network,” it will serve up high-speed connectivity to every seat.

All Emirates Skywards members will receive free access to text-based messaging apps (such as WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger and WeChat) for the whole flight.

Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members in business class will enjoy full unlimited Internet access, as will Skywards Platinum members in premium economy and economy. 

Emirates A350 business class

Emirates has confirmed the A350s will sport an all-new business class in a modern 1-2-1 seating arrangement, so that every passenger will have direct access to the aisle.

The same business class seat is also expected to appear on the Boeing 777-300ERs from mid-2024, in an extensive upgrade program which will see an end to the current 2-3-2 business class layout (and the dreaded middle seat) as the same time as premium economy is added.

Emirates’ next-gen A350 business class seat is also likely to feature across the entire Boeing 777X fleet, where Emirates has signed up for a staggering 205 jets for delivery from 2025. 

“The existing 2-3-2 business Class on (the) 777 will go away and you’ll see a new product that will be launched which will bring us the alignment to the product that we have with the upcoming 777-9X (and) with the A350 that is coming in,” Emirates exec Kazim says, adding that “everything will be streamlined in term of the product offering and consistent” across the fleet.

Emirates' 2-3-2 business class on the 777 is also on the way out.
Emirates' 2-3-2 business class on the 777 is also on the way out.

In that regard, the Emirates A350 business class seat is very much the new face of Emirates business class for the next few decades – even beyond the 2040s, when the A380s will have since retired.

So what can we expect to see from Emirates’ A350 business class?

Emirates has confirmed French multinational aerospace specialist Safran will supply new business class seating for the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 fleets, in a US$1bn program.

Emirates has a long-standing relationship with Safran: the Paris-based company is behind Emirates’ premium economy seat, while a heavily customised version of the original Safran SkyLounge serves as Emirates’ A380 business class.

Safran's relationship ship with Emirates stretches back to the original A380 business class.
Safran's relationship ship with Emirates stretches back to the original A380 business class.

Safran’s published portfolio of business class seats stretches to seven platforms, of which two – Unity and Fusio – are the strongest contenders for Emirates’ A350 business class.

Safran's Unity suite is a prime candidate for Emirates' A350 business class.
Safran's Unity suite is a prime candidate for Emirates' A350 business class.

Unity is Safran’s latest business class platform, with forward facing seats wrapped in high walls and a sliding door “to provide best in class comfort (and) privacy,” Safran says.

Safran's Unity suite is a prime candidate for Emirates' A350 business class.
Safran's Unity suite is a prime candidate for Emirates' A350 business class.

“It aims at satisfying the latest passenger expectations by integrating advanced technologies, creating an outstanding feel of space while ensuring flawless comfort, privacy and a highly premium feel.”

Safran's Unity platform retains a forward-facing 1-2-1 arrangement favoured by Emirates.
Safran's Unity platform retains a forward-facing 1-2-1 arrangement favoured by Emirates.

Unity has already been chosen by Qantas for its Airbus A350 business class, which will feature on those globe-striding Project Sunrise flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York beginning in in late 2025.

Qantas chose the Unity seat for its forthcoming A350 business class.
Qantas chose the Unity seat for its forthcoming A350 business class.

Air India has also chosen Safran's Unity as its transformative international business class, which will debut on the Delhi-based carrier’s Airbus A350s before being fitted across its Boeing 777 and 787 fleet as part of a $400 million refurbishment project.

Unity would allow the Emirates A350 to offer double beds in business class.
Unity would allow the Emirates A350 to offer double beds in business class.

If Emirates opts for Unity as its A350 business class seat, expect the finished product to be significantly customised and styled so that it’s an undeniably Emirates product.

Safran's Unity seat includes mod cons like large HD video screens and wireless charging.
Safran's Unity seat includes mod cons like large HD video screens and wireless charging.

However, we certainly can’t rule out Safran’s Fusio for Emirates’ new A350 and 777 business class.

Safran's Fusio is a 'fusion' of business class and first class.
Safran's Fusio is a 'fusion' of business class and first class.

Described by Safran as “a business class seat with all the first class features” and even a “Business-First Class” product, Fusio is the closest thing to Qatar Airways’ highly-regarded Qsuite business class.

Safran's Fusio would dramatically elevate Emirates' A350 business class experience.
Safran's Fusio would dramatically elevate Emirates' A350 business class experience.

And it would undeniably close the gap between business and first class: perhaps to the advantage of the A350, which will lack first class, but arguably narrowing the difference between classes on the Emirates 777, at least in terms of the ‘hard product’ experience.

As a business/first combo, Safran's Fusio has literally everything that opened and shuts.
As a business/first combo, Safran's Fusio has literally everything that opened and shuts.

Fusio is already being flown in a heavily customised version by Japan’s ANA as its flagship Boeing 777 The Room business class.

ANA's 777 The Room business class is based on Safran Fusio.
ANA's 777 The Room business class is based on Safran Fusio.

In a Fusio business class seat, passengers enjoy increased personal space due to a ‘yin-yang’ design which alternates between front-facing and rear-facing seats.

The alternating forward-backward layout of Safran's Fusio maximises space for passengers.
The alternating forward-backward layout of Safran's Fusio maximises space for passengers.

While that approach in itself would be a dramatic change for Emirates, it would also elevate the Emirates business class experience to at least the equal of rival Qatar Airways and put it ahead of almost all other airlines.

Of course, whatever Safran is cooking up for Emirates’ new business class could also be a completely new seat which remains under wraps for now.

Every seat designer and manufacturer always has something new in various stages of development with which to woo airlines as customers, along with some very bespoke treatments.

An example of this is Safran’s Visa platform, which while not listed on the company’s website is the foundation for Air New Zealand’s new Boeing 787 Business Premiere class, and for now remains exclusive to the Kiwi carrier.

Whatever Emirates lands on for its new A350 and 777 business class, you can be sure the airline will be going all-out to ensure it remains among the world’s best premium travel experiences – especially with the shadow of Riyadh Air on the horizon...

29 Jan 2012

Total posts 164

Has potential, will of course wait to see the final offering before passing judgement, but in the review the product looks functional and comfortable.

05 Mar 2015

Total posts 416

Backwards seating is actually safer than forwards seating, apparently. Otherwise it makes no real difference for 99% of the flight except when you are taking off and landing, and even then that's not really an issue either.

19 Oct 2018

Total posts 9

For some "The alternating forward-backward layout of Safran's Fusio maximises space for passengers." will not be very appealing for a couple of reasons. 1st is facing the opposite direction to the direction of travel and then there is also a bit of a safety aspect.

I seem to remember flying (I think from UK to Singapore) on an RAF plane with all seats facing backwards.  It was a bit strange, but when you're above the clouds, it isn't noticeable.

05 Mar 2015

Total posts 416

I'd be happy with either of these Safran seats, especially the 'Fusio' as it's more unique considering more and more airlines appear to be opting for Unity. Of course Safran might have something 100% unique just for Emirates, just like the Qsuite was designed for Qatar Airways.


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