Johannesburg and Cape Town are the first destinations in Africa to be served by Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777, underscoring the airline’s strong commitment to South Africa.
The airline hosted two guided tours of the refurbished aircraft in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Guests had the opportunity to discover the fully overhauled Boeing 777, notably featuring the introduction of the Premium Economy cabin in South Africa for the first time.
Following the early deployment of the retrofitted Boeing 777 in Cape Town and Johannesburg last month, Emirates—the world’s largest international airline—organized a guided tour of the completely refurbished aircraft. The airline showcased its next-generation cabins, combining sophisticated design and the much-anticipated debut of Premium Economy in South Africa. Johannesburg and Cape Town are the first African destinations to be served by this retrofitted Boeing 777, a testament to Emirates’ long-term commitment to South Africa. Among the leading figures from the South African aviation and tourism sector in attendance were Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro in Cape Town, and Poppy Khoza, Director General of the South African Civil Aviation Authority in Johannesburg, along with Rashid Alardha, Emirates’ Vice President of Commercial Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa.
Commenting on the deployment, Afzal Parambil said:
“As we celebrate three decades of service in South Africa, our commitment to offering the very best and newest on the market remains unwavering. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with our customers and are proud to have a very high percentage of loyal passengers, particularly on long-haul routes to the Far East and Europe. The deployment of our retrofitted Boeing 777—the first in Africa—will further enhance the travel experience for these passengers, with the introduction of Premium Economy and our new Business Class experience. We look forward to welcoming South African travelers on board Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777 very soon.”
Spotlight on the Retrofitted Boeing 777
Emirates’ refurbished four-class Boeing 777 features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including contemporary color palettes, custom-designed Ghaf tree motifs, and wood finishes throughout all cabins. Each aircraft is fitted with 260 next-generation Economy seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, 38 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, and eight First Class suites.
The Economy cabin offers a soothing ocean-blue interior and high ceilings, creating a greater sense of space and brightness. The next-generation seats provide generous legroom, ensuring maximum comfort. The highlight is Emirates’ Premium Economy, introduced in South Africa for the first time. Making luxury travel more accessible to a wider audience, Premium Economy offers an experience comparable to Business Class on many airlines, with spacious reclining leather seats, full leg rests and footrests, and adjustable headrests. The cabin also includes built-in charging ports, a wood-finished side table, a 13.3-inch personal TV screen, generously sized pillows and blankets, complimentary amenity kits on select flights, and Chandon Vintage Brut 2017 sparkling wine, exclusively available worldwide in this class.
The Boeing 777 Business Class cabin has also been redesigned, with a 1-2-1 configuration offering privacy, direct aisle access, and ample space to work, relax, or rest. Each seat is upholstered in champagne-colored leather, similar to Emirates’ latest A380s, with meticulous stitching and padded headrests.
Described as “hotel rooms in the sky,” Emirates’ First Class suites maintain the highest levels of comfort, privacy, and luxury that passengers expect, now featuring refreshed interiors.
Emirates’ Flagship Retrofit Program
Launched in November 2022, Emirates’ US$5 billion retrofit program is one of the largest in the industry, with 219 A380s and Boeing 777s scheduled for a complete upgrade to enhance the onboard experience for passengers.
This monumental project is carried out entirely in-house by Emirates Engineering, with more than 270 engineers and technicians working around the clock, dedicating over 1,800 man-hours every day to bring each aircraft to a flawless finish. To date, 67 aircraft have rolled out of Emirates Engineering—32 A380s and 35 Boeing 777s.
Once the program is complete, Emirates will have installed 8,512 next-generation Premium Economy seats, refurbished 2,034 First Class suites, enhanced 12,720 Business Class seats with entirely new configurations, and fully upgraded 68,364 Economy seats.
