Photo: Emirates Emirates does not stop. The award-winning international airline has announced it will bring refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft to two important routes starting next year. On January 6, 2026, the upgraded jets will start flying between Dubai and Beirut. Roughly one month later, on February 1, the same aircraft will begin service on the Dubai-Beijing route.
The update means Beijing becomes the fourth city in mainland China to benefit from the latest interiors. The bigger shift, however, will be felt by passengers on the Beirut route flying to and from Lebanon’s capital. For the first time, they will be able to look at Premium Economy or choose the redesigned Business Class cabin instead.
Flights schedule:
Dubai-Beirut
From Dubai: flight EK953 departs at 15:40 and arrives in Beirut at 17:00.
From Beirut: flight EK954 leaves Beirut at 19:45 and touches down in Dubai just before 01:00.
Dubai-Beijing
From Dubai: flight EK306 departs Dubai at 03:20 and lands in the Chinese capital at 14:45.
From Beijing: flight EK307 leaves Beijing shortly after midnight and arrives back in Dubai at 05:30.
The timings have been especially set up for travelers who will continue their journeys beyond Dubai. For Beirut passengers, the flights translate to smooth onward connections to cities with large Lebanese communities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and Montreal.
Since many of those long-haul routes are also operated by upgraded aircraft, travelers can expect the same Premium Economy product across both legs of their journey.
Beyond those markets, the schedules also provide easy access to many destinations across the airline’s network, including major hubs such as London Heathrow and New York JFK, as well as São Paulo, Johannesburg, Madrid, Malé, Lisbon, and several cities across the Gulf.
Inside the aircraft, the changes are immediately noticeable: the refurbished Boeing 777s feature a four-class layout and updated cabins.
Each of the jets has been fitted with a total of 260 Economy seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 40 Business Class seats following a 1-2-1 configuration. There are also eight First Class suites for passengers looking for more comfort and luxury while traveling in the air.
The overall look leans toward warm colors, wood finishes, and subtle Ghaf Tree design touches.
Premium Economy continues to offer a step up from Economy, minus the burden of having to pay extra to switch to Business Class. Passengers enjoy additional space, a deeper recline, leg and footrests, in-seat power, and 13.3-inch screens, along with upgraded bedding and a dedicated sparkling wine option.
Business Class, meanwhile, focuses on privacy and comfort, giving travelers a space that works just as well for getting work done as it does for resting on long flights.