Bangkok--23 Jul--Spark Communications Emirates, the innovative Dubai-based airline, today announced a multi-million dollar programme that will cement its leadership in providing “best in the air” travel experiences in all classes. This massive investment will see Emirates introduce an enhanced version of its First Class private suites; lie-flat massage seats in Business Class with more personal space; Economy Class seats with extra legroom; and the industry’s largest personal TV screens in all classes; across its rapidly-expanding long-haul Boeing 777 fleet. The new onboard product will make its first appearance on Emirates' Boeing 777-300ER ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft being delivered this month, and its 777-200LRs — the first of which will be delivered in August 2007. Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “To put the scale of our investment into perspective — in the next 18 months, we will spend about AED 180 million (around 1,500 million Baht) just to install our enhanced First Class product onboard the brand new aircraft we are receiving — this figure does not include the enhancements in other classes of travel, or the retrofit programme. All these investments illustrate why Emirates continues to be world-class.” In a three-class configuration, Emirates’ new Boeing 777-300ERs (ULR) will offer eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business, and 304 seats in Economy; and its 777-200LRs will have eight First Class private suites, 42 lie-flat seats in Business, and 216 seats in Economy. Emirates’ First Class private suites have set the benchmark for truly luxurious travel since it was first introduced in 2003. Amongst the suite’s key features are: a fully-flat bed with in-seat massage, dine-on-demand room service, in-suite personal mini bar, and sliding doors for the ultimate in privacy. The enhanced Emirates First Class private suites are larger with extended floor space, more stowage room for hand baggage and a bigger personal wardrobe within the suite. It also features fine leather upholstery and a luxurious honey walnut finish. A high cabin ceiling (sans overhead bins) adds to the sense of space, and travellers can also relax at the new communal First Class bar area. In Business Class, the multi-zone massage seats recline to a 78” long lie-flat bed, providing ample room for taller passengers. The seats ensure maximum personal space with high privacy dividers, and allow all passengers to recline fully without encroaching on the space of the traveller seated in the row behind. In Economy Class, Emirates’ new generation seats are designed to provide more legroom and comfort. The seats come with a fully adjustable winged headrest, wide flat footrest and articulated seat bottom pan for greater comfort. The introduction of the latest inflight entertainment system onboard also removes the need for boxes underneath seats, thus increasing legroom in Economy. Emirates’ next generation signature ‘ice’ inflight entertainment will be available in all classes, allowing passengers to tune into over 600 channels of entertainment-on-demand. Emirates’ unique ice Digital Widescreen system has been developed over the past three years — focusing on adding innovative features in a simple to use interface. The latest movies and music albums will be dished up on digital wide-screen LCD touch screens which are amongst the largest in the skies - 23” in First Class; 17” in Business Class; and 10.6” in Economy and provides an authentic home-cinema experience.. New features include My USB, which allows passengers to view their holiday photos onscreen during the flight home, and My Playlist, which makes it possible for passengers to create their own compilation from the nearly 10,000 tracks of music available. Passengers in First Class and Business Class can select their entertainment through an industry first - wireless handset controller featuring a 7” touch screen interface. The lack of a cable reduces clutter. In addition, the wireless controllers can adjust seat position, lighting and massage functions. Every seat is also equipped with an advanced ice TV remote control with a colour display. Passengers can simply enter the channel number they want and go straight to that channel, just as if they were using their TV remote control at home. The handset also features a full qwerty keyboard, helpful for sending SMS or emails from flight, while also doubling as a satellite telephone and game controller. Laptop charging points are provided at every seat in First Class and Business Class, and in Economy class cabins, there are several charging points per seat row. Over the next 18 months, Emirates will receive 24 new aircraft fitted with this new product. It will also be implementing an aggressive programme to retrofit its existing Boeing 777 long-haul fleet. Dubai-based Emirates is amongst the fast-growing international airlines in the world. It flies a modern fleet of 103 aircraft to over 80 cities around the globe, and has a US$30 billion order book for 110 more wide-bodied aircraft that includes 51 Boeing 777s and 47 Airbus A380s. About Emirates Thailand Emirates Airline has been operating in Thailand for over 16 years. Currently, Emirates operates 19 flights per week to Dubai, 10 flights per week to Hong Kong, and 7 flights per week to Sydney and Auckland. For further information, please visit www.emirates.com/th or contact Emirates Bangkok office 0-2664-1040-4. KEY ENHANCEMENTS AT A GLANCE First Class suite’s key new features are: A fully-flat bed with in-seat massage Dine-on-demand room service, in-suite personal mini bar Sliding doors for the ultimate in privacy, extended floor space, More stowage room for hand baggage, larger personal wardrobe Fine leather upholstery and a luxurious honey walnut finish A high cabin ceiling (sans overhead bins) adds to the sense of space New communal First Class bar area 23” digital wide-screen LCD touch screen ‘ice’ entertainment system Advanced ‘ice’ interface for extra convenience: “Industry first” wireless handset controllers featuring a 7” touch screen interface in First Class and Business Class to choose entertainment, adjust seat position, lighting and massage functions Business Class key new features include: Multi-zone massage seats recline to a 78” long lie-flat bed. Maximum personal space with high privacy dividers Allows all passengers to recline fully without encroaching on the space of the traveller seated in the row behind. 17” digital wide-screen LCD touch screen ‘ice’ entertainment system Economy Class upgrades: New generation seats designed to provide more legroom and comfort. Fully adjustable winged headrest, wide flat footrest and articulated seat bottom pan Removal of inflight entertainment boxes underneath seats for more room 10.6” digital wide-screen LCD touch screen ‘ice’ entertainment system Emirates ‘ice’ Inflight Entertainment Enhancements Over 600 channels of entertainment-on-demand My Playlist, which makes it possible for passengers to create their own compilation from the nearly 10,000 tracks of music available. My USB, which allows passengers to view their holiday photos onscreen during the flight home Passengers can simply enter the channel number they want and go straight to that channel, just as if they were using their TV remote control at home A full qwerty keyboard, helpful for sending SMS or emails from the flight Doubles as a satellite telephone and games controller Laptop charging points are provided at every seat in First Class and Business Class, and in Economy class cabins, there are several charging points per seat row. Media please contact: Thanika Orawanchikul/ Warangkana Paungsiri Spark Communications Tel: 0-2653-2717-9 Fax: 0-2653-2720 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] visit: www.emirates.com Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net