Emirates' Boeing 777 business class refresh keeps 2-3-2 layout

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by David Flynn | November 12, 2017

Emirates will refresh its Boeing 777 business class seats from 2018, but this minor facelift won't mean dropping the oft-criticised 2-3-2 layout and its inconvenient middle seat.

The move – revealed alongside the launch of new Boeing 777 first class suites – comes barely 18 months after the Gulf airline and Qantas partner unveilled new-look Boeing 777 lie-flat business class seats (below) in March 2016.

The changes appear to be exceptionally subtle, however, and intended to give the seats a slightly more consistent look against those first class suites which Emirates says were inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class series.

For example, there's a different woodgrain pattern on the privacy dividers between the seats as well as around those massive 23-inch HD video screens (which can be overwhelming because your seatmate's screen remains well inside your own field of vision).

Emirates also tells us the revamped seat includes a slimline USB-C port – as used on an increasing number of smartphones and laptops – alongside the conventional USB-A jack, so that's definitely a nod to the tech-toting business traveller.

Overall the refresh certainly doesn't draw down that 'business class bling' factor, as passengers still face acres of that familiar faux woodgrain-effect plastic wrapped around the seats.

However, Emirates CEO Sir Tim Clark confirmed a next-generation business class seat with a 1-2-1 layout would feature on the forthcoming Boeing 777X, which the airline expects to see flying in 2020.

Clark described the 2018 refresh as "the last makeover of this generation of seat” for Emirates’ Boeing 777.

Read more: Emirates plans new business class seat for Boeing 777X