Emirates rolls out retrofitted 777s to Beirut, Beijing

Emirates announced that retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft featuring Premium Economy will serve flights EK953/954 between Dubai and Beirut from 6 January 2026 and flights EK306/307 between Dubai and Beijing, starting from 1 February 2026. Beijing becomes the fourth city in the Chinese mainland to receive Emirates’ latest aircraft and next-gen products, while travellers to and from Beirut will experience the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy and new Business Class cabin in 1-2-1 layout for the first time. For Lebanon’s capital city, EK953 departs Dubai at 1540hrs, arriving in Beirut at 1700hrs, with the return EK954 departing at 1945hrs and arriving in Dubai at 0050hrs. ** The schedule offers seamless connections to and from major cities with significant Lebanese diaspora communities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Montreal. Customers can enjoy a consistent Premium Economy experience across both legs of their journey, with many of these cities being served by retrofitted Boeing 777s and A380s featuring the airline’s latest interiors. Emirates’ flight EK306 departs Dubai at 3:20hrs, arriving in Beijing at 14:45hrs. The return flight EK307 takes off from Beijing at 00:40hrs, landing in Dubai at 5:30hrs. ** Travellers can enjoy a consistent Premium Economy experience from Beijing to popular destinations across Emirates’ global network, including London Heathrow, New York JFK, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Madrid, Malé and Lisbon, as well as key cities in the Gulf region such as Kuwait, Riyadh and Amman. The refurbished four-class Emirates Boeing 777 features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including modern colour palettes, specially designed Ghaf Tree motifs, and wood finishes across all cabins. Each aircraft includes 260 of the latest-generation Economy seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, 40 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, and eight First Class Suites. Emirates Flight Training Academy welcomes 77 next-gen pilots After months of rigorous training, 77 highly trained cadets successfully turned their ambition to achievement at the Emirates Flight Training Academy’s (EFTA) sixth graduation ceremony. This annual milestone adds to EFTA’s growing legacy of creating a robust conduit of trained pilots for Emirates and the airline industry with over 300 cadets graduating to date. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, who headlined the event, said: “Emirates Flight Training Academy’s graduation ceremony symbolises the setting of a stronger foundation for global aviation and a promise that its future rests in the hands of committed, capable, resilient leaders. Our graduates will now proudly wear their wings, connect the world, uphold the highest standards of safety and service, and shape the world of aviation. Each one of our graduates today is a testament to potential and perseverance. Together, they represent our commitment to building a steady stream of aviators who will carry Dubai’s vision to the skies. Congratulations, graduates – you have made us proud.” Fifty-two graduates represent the Emirates Group’s UAE National Pilot Cadet Programme (NCPP), while 25 are from 15 other nations. In the last five years, EFTA has graduated over 300 highly skilled cadets, of which most are successfully flying or training at Emirates on the airline’s widebody fleet. NCPP is the UAE’s largest and most established initiative of its kind, created to cultivate future generations of highly skilled Emirati pilots. The cadets, who are fully sponsored by the Group, join EFTA. Upon graduation, NCPP cadets have a clear pathway to flying with Emirates after completing their type rating. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]