A new chapter in air travel luxury begins this September as Emirates introduces its exquisitely retrofitted Boeing 777 to Johannesburg and Cape Town – making South Africa the first African destination to experience the airline’s most sophisticated interiors to date.
Renowned for its dedication to excellence, Emirates has reaffirmed South Africa’s strategic importance as a key gateway into Africa by bringing its next-generation Business Class and Premium Economy cabins to local skies. Starting 1 September 2025, the daily EK 765/766 service will see Johannesburg welcome the upgraded aircraft, followed by Cape Town’s EK 770/771 route from 20 September and a second Johannesburg service (EK 761/762) from 25 September.
This marks the debut of Emirates’ retrofitted Boeing 777 on the continent – an aircraft designed to redefine comfort, elegance and the premium flying experience.
“We are delighted to enhance the Emirates experience in South Africa, with the introduction of the upgraded Boeing 777 to Johannesburg and Cape Town,” says Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa. “The entire aircraft has been refreshed from nose to tail, setting new benchmarks in in-flight luxury with our signature Premium Economy and thoughtfully designed Business Class cabins. We look forward to welcoming South African travellers onboard.”
From its calming cream leather finishes to rich wood accents inspired by the UAE’s native Ghaf tree, the revamped Boeing 777 speaks the language of quiet luxury. The star attraction is the Premium Economy cabin – a sanctuary in the sky featuring 19.5-inch wide seats with generous recline, six-way adjustable headrests, and refined touches like wood-finished cocktail tables and 13.3-inch personal screens. These carefully crafted details are expected to elevate the experience beyond expectations.
Business Class has been equally reimagined, now in a 1-2-1 configuration to guarantee every traveller direct aisle access, privacy and the space to work, relax or sleep with effortless elegance.
Beyond the design, the numbers tell a compelling story: 24 Premium Economy seats and 256 Economy Class seats on each aircraft, all part of Emirates’ bold US$5 billion retrofit programme – the largest of its kind in aviation history. With over 220 aircraft scheduled for transformation, Emirates is rolling out a newly upgraded jet every three weeks, reinforcing its position as a global leader in premium air travel.
South Africa joins a select group of cities – including Lisbon, Dublin, Hong Kong, Male, Kolkata and Colombo – set to receive these next-generation aircraft. By September 2025, Emirates will serve 44 destinations with its enhanced fleet, inviting discerning travellers to rediscover the joy of flying.
With the arrival of the retrofitted Boeing 777, the journey itself becomes part of the destination – a seamless blend of innovation, style, and comfort at 40 000 feet.
