Emirates’ US$5 billion cabin retrofit programme, which is one of the largest such programmes in the aviation industry, is continuing to advance at an impressive rate. The ultimate goal is to refurbish the interiors of 219 aircraft in the Emirates fleet, comprising 110 Airbus A380s and 109 Boeing 777s.
This work has been partly necessary as aircraft delivery delays, and delays in certification of the Boeing 777X, are requiring the airline (and indeed other airlines) to keep aircraft in service for longer.
Emirates has been completing the refits at an average rate of two aircraft every month. To date, 76 aircraft have undergone refurbishment, with each A380 requiring approximately 22 days and each Boeing 777 taking 18 days to retrofit.
Emirates has now announced that the next phase of the rollout will start from August 2026, involving 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s, all of which will be fitted with new onboard products, upgraded in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, and Starlink wi-fi connectivity systems.
The retrofits are being carried out by Emirates Engineering, which is working with project partners, including Airbus, Safran, Safran Seats, Recaro Aircraft Seating, Panasonic Avionics, Starlink, and UUDS, for everything from new premium economy cabins, to new seating throughout, and new onboard lounges for the A380s.
Interested in cabin retrofits? Look out for the special feature in the November 2025 issue of Aircraft Interiors International magazine.
Retrofit upgrades
So what can customers flying on these 60 A380s and 51 B777s expect to find on board?
The Business Class cabins on both the A380 and B777 will enjoy Emirates’ latest-generation seating, using the same S Lounge seat platform by Safran Seats that was introduced on the airline’s A350 fleet in 2024, featuring massage & lumbar support functions.
Compared with the outgoing business seats, the S Lounge brings more private space, and useful details including wireless charging integrated into the cocktail table, customisable in-seat lighting, 4K IFE displays, a minibar, and multiple charging options including USB-C and wireless ports.
The Premium Economy cabins will feature Recaro seats with a mechanical recline system. The leather-trimmed seats will feature integrated leg and footrests, adjustable headrests, and amenities including in-seat charging, a side cocktail table, and a 13.3-inch IFE screen.
Economy Class customers will sit on lightweight Safran Z400 seats, which are now a little lighter due to the application of lighter weight materials and a smaller parts count. These seats are designed for long-haul operations, with a ‘U-Dream’ adjustable eight-way headrest for neck and head support.
Emirates has selected Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova IFE platform for the 111 aircraft retrofits, which will bring 4K OLED HDR10+ displays, immersive Spatial Audio (multi-dimensional sound), and fast 67W USB-C charging for passenger devices. The systems will also feature Panasonic’s Arc 3D moving map, for an immersive flight-tracking experience.
