Emirates unveils new Airbus A380 with a record 615 seats after ripping out first class to pack in more passengers

Economy class is getting even bigger after Emirates reconfigured its new Airbus A380-800 planes to hold the most seats ever for an airliner.

Already the world’s largest passenger plane, the new two-class A380 will hold a staggering 615 passengers in business and economy – but travellers in so-called cattle class will not lose any legroom inside Emirates' overhauled cabin.

The luxury Gulf carrier has made room for 130 additional economy seats, or 13 rows with 10 seats in each, by scrapping the spacious first class cabin and trimming 18 flat-bed seats from business class.

Emirates' new Airbus A380 has two classes - business and economy - and will hold a staggering 615 passengers in both cabins

With no first class and fewer flat-bed seats in business class, there are about 130 additional economy seats on the new A380

Passengers who are in economy on Emirates' two-class A380 will not lose any legroom as the seat pitch will remain unchanged

Emirates' first two-class A380 was delivered to the Dubai Airshow this week and will be used on the carrier's Dubai-Copenhagen route

The luxury carrier's new two-class A380 carries nearly 100 more passengers than its largest three-class configured plane.

Two-class A380 (business and economy)

Total passengers: 615

Business class: 58

Economy class:  557

Three-class A380 (first, business and economy)

Total passengers: 517

First class: 14

Business class: 76

Economy class: 427

Source: dailymail.co.uk

In the two-class configuration, Emirates' Airbus A380 planes will carry 58 passengers in business class, which offers lie-flat seats

The 58 seats in business class fold into flat beds that measure up to 79 inches in length, allowing passengers to get a decent sleep

In addition to more personal space in their seats, business class passengers enjoy an on-board lounge with canapes and drinks

The website said the seat pitch (the space between the back of one seat and the back of the seat behind it) will remain 32-34in and the width will be slightly smaller at 17.5in – half an inch less than Emirates' three-class A380s, which have fewer economy seats.

Emirates’ existing A380s have two different configurations with three classes – first, business and economy – seating 489 or 517 passengers.

If an airline decided to scrap first and business classes and convert an entire A380-800 into an economy-class only configuration, it could hold 853 passengers.

While it may be 'cattle class', Emirates' economy cabin is among the best in the industry, taking seventh place in this year's Skytrax World Airline Awards.

One of its biggest perks is an in-flight entertainment system that has been named the world's best for a record 11 consecutive years. It has more than 500 films on offer, and it displays incredible scenes from on-board cameras that show the pilots' view or the ground below, said Emirates.

Dubai Airshow visitors were among the first to board the double-decker, although they didn’t have the luxury of leaving the ground

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (middle), the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Dubai, greets a flight attendant while touring Emirates' new Airbus A380 during the Dubai Airshow

Emirates' business class lounge is stocked with premium spirits, exclusive wines, Champagne, cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic drinks

BATTLE OF THE SUPERJUMBO JETS: THE WORLD’S LARGEST PASSENGER PLANES 

1. Airbus A380-800 (Capacity of 525 passengers)

2. Boeing 747-8I (467 passengers)

3. Boeing 747-400 (416 passengers)

4. Airbus A340-600 (350 passengers)

5. Airbus A350-900 (325 passengers)

6. Boeing 777-300 (314 passengers)

7. Boeing 777-200 (280 passengers)

8. Airbus A333-300 (277 passengers)

9. Airbus A340-300 (267 passengers)

10. Airbus A340-500 (240 passengers)

* Based on a typical three-class seating configuration (first, business and economy)

Emirates' first two-class A380 was delivered to the Dubai Airshow straight from Airbus’ plant in Hamburg, Germany earlier this month.

Visitors were among the first to get a look inside the double-decker, although they didn’t have the luxury of leaving the ground.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and emir of Dubai, spent time touring the superjumbo jet and meeting Emirates staff. 

After the Dubai Airshow ends, the massive four-engine plane will be used on Emirates’ Dubai-Copenhagen route when it enters commercial service on 1 December.

The average flight time between Dubai and Copenhagen is seven hours and a one-way economy class ticket costs about £350 ($540).

Emirates was the first airline to order the original A380 and is the largest operator of the aircraft, carrying almost 47 million passengers since the revolutionary aircraft was introduced to its fleet in 2008.

It has 68 of the airliners in its fleet with 72 more on order, flying to 34 destinations from Dubai, including London, New York and Sydney.

Emirates' first two-class A380 prepares to take off from an Airbus plant in Hamburg, Germany, for the Dubai Airshow earlier this month.

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