Dubai-based Emirates Airline has begun taking delivery of new generation Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, according to a Nov. 15 statement.
The first new generation A380-388Q was delivered this month as Emirates’ 85th A380. In addition to an onboard lounge and first class shower spa, the A380-388Q will have several new features, including a new seat configuration.
This A380 is the first of seven expected to be delivered this fiscal year, with 51 more of the type on order. 
With the relocation of the crew rest area, there will be 25 additional seats in economy class, for a total of 426 seats on the lower deck. First- and business-class seats will remain at 14 and 76, respectively, on the upper deck.
Among the features is a new design in the business-class cabin with a higher ceiling to create a more spacious feel. Overhead cabin lockers will be concentrated in the middle aisles and will be 28% larger.
The next generation A380s are expected to serve more ultra long-haul routes. “The A380 is the sweetest thing for us. It is our one unique selling point; this is a marketing advantage,” Emirates president Tim Clark told ATW recently.
From the end of November, Emirates will begin taking delivery of its new generation Boeing 777-300ER. It will be the first of six this fiscal year and 27 total on order.
The new aircraft will feature enhanced business-class seats, which recline to 180-degree fully flat beds of 78 inches in length, an in-seat minibar, and a 23-inch inflight entertainment screen in business class. The aircraft will also have an upgraded seat configuration with two additional seats in economy class taking the total capacity in economy to 306. The number of seats in first- and business-class will remain the same at 8 and 42 seats, respectively.
The new 777-300ERs are expected to have improved environmental performance with 2% lower fuel burn.
Currently, 85% of Emirates’ fleet of passenger aircraft is equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, including all A380 aircraft. In addition, 108 aircraft are equipped with live TV.
With close to 90% of customers on Emirates connecting to Wi-Fi on long-haul flights, Emirates said it will continue to meet the increasing demand for connectivity, enabling more aircraft with Wi-Fi and live TV each month. 
Emirates has retired its last Airbus A330-200 and A340-300, becoming an all-Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 operator for passenger flights. It is currently the largest A380 and 777 operator, with 85 A380-800s and 160 777s (which includes -200LR, -300, -300ER and 777F variants) in its fleet.