Airline Completes Landmark Cabin Upgrades on A380s and Boeing 777s
DUBAI: Emirates has marked a major milestone in its ambitious retrofit programme, completing the refurbishment of 100 aircraft — the largest known initiative of its kind by any airline worldwide. Since November 2022, 47 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s have undergone a full nose‑to‑tail refresh at the Emirates Engineering hangars in Dubai, with the airline investing US$5 billion to elevate customer experience. By December 2026, another 20 aircraft are expected to be upgraded, pushing the project well past its halfway mark.
Premium Economy Expansion Drives Emirates’ US$5 Billion Retrofit Push
The retrofit programme has seen more than 400 engineers and technicians dedicate 4.4 million man hours over 44 months to transform the interiors of Emirates’ wide‑body fleet. Each aircraft has been fitted with a new Premium Economy Cabin, adding over 3,800 seats across the network and expanding access to one of the airline’s most popular products.
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Sir Tim Clark Hails Engineering Feat as Emirates Reaches 100 Retrofits
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, hailed the achievement as a “significant milestone,” emphasizing the scale and precision required to retrofit the world’s two largest passenger aircraft entirely in‑house. He noted that the project not only enhances luxury and comfort for passengers but also showcases Emirates Engineering’s innovation, craftsmanship, and technical capabilities in Dubai.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Our commitment to deliver best-in-class products across every cabin is an ongoing endeavour, and completing full cabin retrofits for 100 wide-body aircraft in 44 months is a significant achievement. Backed by a US$5 billion investment, it ensures our customers ‘fly better,’ with elevated luxury, comfort, and thoughtful detail throughout each cabin. Executing a project of this magnitude and complexity entirely inhouse has also required unmatched planning, precision, craftsmanship and technical capabilities here in Dubai. Our team has completely rewritten the rulebook on retrofitting the two largest passenger aircraft in commercial aviation to make sure that every aircraft returns to the skies on schedule and in impeccable shape.”
