Less than nine months after launching its inaugural service to Lyon, Emirates has announced it will upgrade the route’s operating aircraft to a Boeing 777-200LR, effective from February 1, 2014.

Offering a total of 266 seats in each direction, the upgraded aircraft will continue to operate five times per week and will offer customers eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business Class and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy Class.

Since its launch in December last year, Emirates has carried over 56,000 passengers between Dubai and Lyon, boosting international tourism in Lyon from destinations in the Middle and Far East as well as Australia.

“The upgrade of our Lyon service to a Boeing 777 is a clear marker of the route’s success since its launch late last year, highlighting the strong growth potential of this destination,” said Emirates Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Commercial Operations Worldwide Thierry Antinori. “Offering the highest standards of passenger comfort, our customers travelling to and from Lyon will now be able to enjoy the added in-flight features afforded by this aircraft, including lie-flat seats in Business Class and extended inflight entertainment options in all classes.”

“Prior to Emirates’ service, Lyon and its catchment area were significantly underserviced by international carriers. With this new direct service, customers can now conveniently connect to 10 points in India as well as a raft of destinations in the Far East, Indian Ocean and Australia,” added Antinori.

In addition to increased seating comfort, Emirates’ Boeing 777-200LR also features ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system which offers up to 1,500 channels of inflight entertainment including the latest French films.

“Offering a Boeing 777 on this route, from February next year, underscores our commitment to not only this French gateway but also to offering our customers the highest standards of inflight comfort,” added Antinori.

Passengers flying First Class with Emirates can enjoy a very generous baggage allowance of 50kg, in Business Class 40kg and in Economy Class, a sizable 30kg. The airline’s chauffeur-drive service is available to both First and Business Class passengers in LyonandDubai.

Emirates flight EK81 departs Dubai every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, arrivinginLyononthesameday.

Emirates currently operates to three destinations in France including 20 weekly flights to Paris and a daily service to Nice.