Emirates has given South African travellers a first-hand look at its next-generation onboard experience, following the advanced deployment of its newly refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft to Cape Town and Johannesburg last month. The world’s largest international airline hosted two guided tours in the country’s aviation and tourism hubs, offering stakeholders the opportunity to explore the aircraft’s nose-to-tail refresh, including the highly anticipated debut of Premium Economy in South Africa.
Johannesburg and Cape Town have become the first destinations in Africa to be served by the retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s three-decade-long partnership with South Africa. The guided tours brought together key leaders from the aviation and tourism sectors, including Wrenelle Stander, Chief Executive Officer of Wesgro, who joined the showcase in Cape Town, and Poppy Khoza, Director General of the South African Civil Aviation Authority, who attended the event in Johannesburg. Representing Emirates were Rashid Alardha, Vice President Commercial Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, and Afzal Parambil, Regional Manager for Southern Africa.
Speaking at the unveiling, Parambil reaffirmed Emirates’ deep commitment to South Africa and its customers. “As we celebrate three decades of service to South Africa, our commitment to bring the latest and greatest to the market is unwavering. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with our customers and are proud to have a very high percentage of repeat passengers, particularly on long-haul travel to destinations in the Far East and Europe. The deployment of our refurbished Boeing 777 – our first in Africa – will further elevate the experience for these passengers, with the introduction of Premium Economy and our new Business Class experience. We look forward to welcoming travellers from South Africa on the refreshed Emirates Boeing 777 soon.”
The refreshed Boeing 777 has undergone a full cabin upgrade across all four classes. Its interiors now feature modern colour palettes, subtle Ghaf Tree motifs, and sleek wood finishes, bringing a contemporary feel to the entire aircraft. Economy Class has been reimagined with a calming ocean blue design and high ceilings, creating an enhanced sense of space and light. Passengers will benefit from the latest generation seats designed for comfort on long journeys, with generous legroom as standard.
The biggest highlight is Emirates’ much-lauded Premium Economy cabin, now available in South Africa for the very first time. Positioned between Economy and Business Class, Premium Economy offers a luxurious yet accessible experience, with spacious leather reclining seats, full leg and footrests, and adjustable headrests. Passengers can enjoy in-seat charging points, a wood-finished cocktail table, a 13.3-inch personal screen, as well as a generously sized pillow and blanket. On select flights, guests are also treated to complimentary amenity kits and Chandon Vintage Brut 2017, a sparkling wine served exclusively in Emirates’ Premium Economy worldwide.
Business Class has been redesigned with a new 1-2-1 seating layout, ensuring all passengers enjoy aisle access, greater privacy, and ample space for working, dining, or resting. The champagne leather seats, complete with detailed stitching and plush cushioned headrests, mirror the premium finishes seen on Emirates’ latest A380 aircraft.
At the pinnacle of the onboard experience, Emirates’ First Class Suites have also been refreshed. Often described as a “hotel room in the sky,” the suites maintain the airline’s hallmark of unmatched privacy and luxury, now enhanced with updated interiors that reflect Emirates’ signature standards.
The retrofit project is part of Emirates’ industry-leading USD $5 billion programme, one of the largest of its kind in global aviation. Launched in November 2022, the initiative covers 219 aircraft, including A380s and Boeing 777s, all of which will undergo a complete interior overhaul. The monumental programme is being carried out entirely in-house by Emirates Engineering, where more than 270 engineers and technicians work tirelessly, devoting over 1,800 manhours each day to transform each aircraft.
To date, 67 aircraft have been completed, 32 A380s and 35 Boeing 777s, with thousands of upgraded seats already in service. By the time the project is finished, Emirates will have installed 8,512 state-of-the-art Premium Economy seats, refreshed 2,034 First Class suites, redesigned 12,720 Business Class seats with brand-new configurations, and overhauled 68,364 Economy Class seats.
