Emirates has unveiled a major expansion of its cabin retrofit programme at the Dubai Airshow, committing to upgrade an additional 111 aircraft.
The move brings the total number of aircraft scheduled for refurbishment to 219, making it one of the largest projects of its kind in commercial aviation.
The expanded programme will see 60 Airbus A380s and 51 Boeing 777s fitted with Emirates’ latest cabin products. Work begins in August 2026, with enhancements spanning seating, in‑flight entertainment, and connectivity.
Upgrades Across All Classes
Business class cabins will feature Emirates’ newest seating, inspired by the A350’s S Lounge design, offering greater privacy, wireless charging, customisable lighting, and multiple charging ports. A redesigned onboard lounge will also be introduced on 60 A380s.
Premium economy will be rolled out more widely, equipped with Recaro’s advanced seating technology, while economy cabins will benefit from Safran’s lightweight Z400 seats, designed for long‑haul comfort.
Technology and Connectivity
Emirates has selected Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova platform to deliver 4K OLED HDR10+ entertainment screens, Spatial Audio, and Bluetooth headset pairing. Every seat will feature 67W USB‑C charging.
Connectivity will be strengthened with the installation of Starlink WiFi across both A380 and Boeing 777 fleets, ensuring high‑speed internet access for passengers worldwide.
Industrial Expansion in Dubai
Supporting the retrofit, Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Safran to establish a seat manufacturing and assembly facility in Dubai. The 20,000–25,000 sqm site, due for completion in Q4 2027, will initially produce up to 1,000 business‑class seats annually and contribute to the development of a wider aerospace manufacturing cluster in the region.
Leadership Comment
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, said the retrofit programme is designed to “deliver product consistency at scale” and meet customer expectations for a premium experience across the fleet.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, added that the Safran partnership will “bring world‑class seat production capabilities to Dubai, creating highly skilled jobs and supporting future cabin interior requirements.”