Emirates Airline is set to enhance its on-board experience and increase capacity on its Zambia and Zimbabwe route with the deployment of a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from February 1.

The Boeing 777-300ER will replace the current Airbus A340-300 and offer an additional 97 Economy Class seats per flight, the airline said in a statement.

The aircraft will have eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 310 seats in Economy Class, it added.

“As Emirates we are constantly seeking ways to enhance our services, and the upgauge to the Boeing 777-300ER on the Lusaka-Harare route is part of our commitment to offer Zambian and Zimbabwean travellers even more comfort and entertainment on our daily service,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates senior vice president, Commercial Operations, Latin America, Central and Southern Africa.

“In addition to the enhanced on-board product, we are also able to offer more seats, ensuring capacity to meet growing demand on the route, not just outbound from Zimbabwe and Zambia, but also inbound from the United States, UK and Australia, as we continue to build and strengthen trade and tourism links between Zimbabwe and Zambia with markets in the rest of Emirates’ extensive global network, through seamless and convenient connections via our Dubai hub,” he added.

Popular destinations for both Zambian and Zimbabwean travellers include Dubai, London, Beijing, New York, Hong Kong, Manchester and Delhi.

With 155 Boeing 777s in service and a further 190 on order, the aircraft is the backbone of the Emirates fleet.

The deployment of the aircraft on the Lusaka and Harare route also makes Emirates’ southern Africa network an all Boeing 777 operation, with flights to Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and Luanda in Angola.

Businesses and traders will also benefit from the aircraft’s larger belly-hold to carry cargo, offering 23 tonnes of capacity per flight to support the two countries’ exports such as vegetables and flowers, and imports ranging from pharmaceuticals to mining equipment.