Business Traveller (Middle East)
LESS SEATS & LARGER FLEETS
Small but significant cabin changes and major aircraft orders were the hallmarks of the Dubai Airshow 2017, reports Dominic Ellis
Emirates and flydubai had plenty in common during Dubai Airshow 2017 week, beyond their nascent codeshare partnership. Both carriers were displaying new aircraft – in Emirates’ case, the 100th A380 featuring a tribute to HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, while flydubai paraded its B737 MAX – and announced major orders (Emirates ordering 40 Dreamliners, flydubai 225 B737 MAX). They showed off their latest premium cabins too, though perhaps the most significant link lay in what they omitted rather than included.
Both airlines have cut out two seats. Emirates’ first class on its new Boeing widebodies – going into service initially on Geneva and Brussels this month – feature six self-contained suites while flydubai’s new MAX has removed the second row pairing, opting for a stylish-looking single middle seat in a 10-seat business class cabin.
Such moves may seem peripheral in the context of multi-cabin configurations and billion-dollar plane orders but space is always the most precious commodity on any aircraft; in their separate ways, both partners were making bold statements with their premium upgrades, enticing passengers with a more cosey and private experience for those prepared to pay for it.
Emirates’ first class suites took centre stage at a time when many airlines continue to cut first class or disband it altogether. The tie-up with Mercedes-Benz, which worked on the cabins for four years with Emirates, results in sharper wood (inspired on the S Class) and fixture designs and augments Emirates’ presence in the luxury brand space, while charismatic auto journo Jeremy Clarkson provides the ad campaign with some extra zip.
‘WINDOW’ VIEWS FROM AISLE SUITES
The sharpest innovations concern the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors and middle aisle suites in which the three windows give the illusion of a window seat – the view outside comes courtesy of a high-definition camera which Sir Tim Clark said, quite rightly, is so clear it actually looks sharper than gazing out of an oval window normally. Binoculars are also included in other suites.
Passengers can view over 2,500 channels of ondemand entertainment on a 32-inch Full HD LCD TV screen, or project content from their own devices. The viewing experience is now enhanced with new Bowers & Wilkins Active Noise Cancelling E1 headphones while the Ghaf tree motif (in all cabins) serves as a local cultural tie-in.
The seat-come-bed has a large four-control icon and there is no question it’s luxurious, augmented by other novel touches such as the ‘room service video call’ function on the seat-side monitor. I tried it out and it was strange talking directly to a crew member but it’s a sign of the times as the travel industry as one continues its march towards greater personalisation. Each suite is fitted with an ‘inspiration kit’ which features a luxury Byredo skincare collection (exclusive to the airline), Hydra Active moisturising pyjamas and Bulgari amenity kits, and the new colour palette of soft greys, cream and champagne has a classic Emirates look and feel.
The only downside was the narrow corridors, no larger for one at a time, presumably a trade-off for each of the 40sq ft suites; while serving first class on demand isn’t the same as serving 200 in economy, it might be something crew need to monitor once VIPs and entourages come on board.
SHARP SEATS IN BUSINESS
Moving back on the B777-300ER, business class is configured 2-3-2 and split into two areas and I would opt for any seats in the first 14-seat section, which looks attractive. The seat has a pitch of 72 inches, moves into a fully flat sleeping position and features touchscreen controls for the seat and IFE, several personal lighting options, privacy panels between seats, a shoe stowage area, footrest and personal minibar.
Some readers on the Business Traveller forum were quick to question the middle-three seat design. At first sight, I can see why the middle seat looks less appealing, but the wooden panels seem to do their job and I doubt it will be become a major problem – but granted, it doesn’t remove the ‘stepover’ problem and we are in an era when premium passengers have come to expect direct aisle access.
I found the seat’s leather fabric comfortable, and the revised icon is a lot simpler to work, and includes a convenient central pause function if you need to leave your film. Overall, as on the bulk of its B777s, there are 42 business class seats.
IFE has been upgraded in first, business and economy on the new 777s, courtesy of Panasonic Avionics. First class also features a slim tablet for seat and cabin control, ICE navigation and wifi, while the wireless handset offers interactive navigation, channel, volume, flight attendant call, light, TV on/ off, menu and sleep.
Business class features 23-inch full HD monitors as well as HDMI ports and both first and business have high-power single USB Type-C charging jacks.
Economy class has soft greys and blues with full leather headrests and flexible side panels along with