Emirates Expands Cabin Retrofit Plan for 111 More Aircraft
Emirates’ US$5 billion cabin retrofit programme, one of the largest in commercial aviation, continues to progress rapidly as the airline prepares its next wave of upgrades. The initiative aims to fully refurbish 219 aircraft, including 110 Airbus A380s and 109 Boeing 777s, a move driven in part by ongoing aircraft delivery delays and the certification lag of the Boeing 777X. These factors are requiring airlines, including Emirates, to extend the operational life of existing fleets.
The airline has been completing refits at an average pace of two aircraft per month. So far, 76 aircraft have been modernised, with each A380 requiring roughly 22 days in the hangar and each Boeing 777 taking about 18 days. Emirates has now confirmed that the next phase of the programme will begin in August 2026, covering 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s. These aircraft will receive updated products across all cabins, Panasonic’s latest in-flight entertainment systems, and Starlink high-speed wi-fi.
The retrofit work is led by Emirates Engineering in partnership with industry suppliers including Airbus, Safran, Safran Seats, Recaro Aircraft Seating, Panasonic Avionics, Starlink, and UUDS. Upgrades range from new premium economy cabins to redesigned seating and refreshed onboard lounges on the A380.
Passengers on the newly refurbished A380s and 777s can expect Emirates’ latest Business Class seat, based on the S Lounge platform by Safran Seats and already in service on the A350 fleet. The seat features improved privacy, massage and lumbar functions, wireless charging, adjustable lighting, 4K screens, a personal minibar, and multiple charging options including USB-C.
Premium Economy will receive new Recaro seats with mechanical recline, leather trim, integrated leg and footrests, adjustable headrests, and a 13.3-inch entertainment screen. Economy cabins will be fitted with lighter Safran Z400 seats designed for long-haul comfort, featuring an adjustable U-Dream eight-way headrest.
Across all cabins, Emirates has selected Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova platform for the 111-aircraft upgrade, bringing 4K OLED HDR10+ displays, immersive spatial audio, 67W USB-C fast charging, and the Arc 3D moving map for a more engaging in-flight experience.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aircraftinteriorsinternational.com