EK signs agreement with Thales for Inflight-Entertainment for their B777X
http://www.emirates.com/media-centre...ng-777x-fleet#

It looks like the first 777-300ER (A6-EBL) has come off lease and left the active fleet. It positioned DXB-DWC today for storage.

Would have thought EBA would have been first...

Age is not the primary factor, but rather the economics. And since EK leases its planes from all kinds of lessors with individual contracts per airplane, I assume A6-EBL could have been one with a less favourable contract to be continued / renewed. (Just a wild guess)
Apparently, A6-EBL will go to Rossiya.

Here is a fun fact: On 22th Aug 2012, a baby was born en route to MNL aboard A6-EBL. The mother named the baby "Ek" :)

Another info: All A330 and all 340 have now left the fleet as of 30th Oct. This makes A6-EMK (772ER) the smallest aircraft in the EK fleet. (will leave soon too, though, making the 77Ls the next smaller ones. )

I believe five 300ERs going to Rossiya.

Behind a pay wall, but an article here about it for anyone with access:

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/ne...es-b777-300ers

Yes, those are the 2C frames I mentioned earlier. EBA, EBL, EBP, EBS, AND EBT

It would definitely be time to update the list with all the aircraft joining and leaving the fleet. Also, there are quite a few that have been upgraded with new seating configurations, ICE DW and WiFi.

Rossiya have a two class only fleet, so it makes sense for them.

Exactly. Also who wants Sky Cruisers? The 2 class frames with the increased Y capacity obviously fit better than the 3 class ones.

Would the new operator keep the Emirates seats? I'd have thought they would refit the plane with their own interiors.

Posted this in the Airframe delivery thread but perhaps more relevant here, EK produced video on their fleet stats 160 777s is ridiculous!

Not exact as per today, but as we all know with EK, change is constant... As of today there are 86 A380s, 141 passenger 777s, 13 freighter 77s, 2 leased 747Fs, and 1 A319CJ. 243 aircraft in total with an average age of just less than 4.9 years.

Regarding retirements, 25 during 2017, 2018 will consist of the last 7 777 classics, the 4 other 777-300ER frames for Rossiya, plus another 14 777-300ERs

Won't EK rip their seats, cabin, etc out of the planes before handing them over? That being the case will it really matter if it is a 2 or 3 class frame?

Galley positions presumably.