By Youssef Yahya 
Emirates has put its first refurbished Airbus A380 back into service. The airline’s $2 billion program (“Emirates Retrofit Program”) to update 120 A380s and 777-300ERs is expected to be finished in 2025. The first out of 120 aircraft that have undergone retrofitting has entered service today (06/01/2023) after undergoing extensive interior refurbishment. The fully renovated A380 includes popular Premium Economy seats and Emirates’ latest cabin interiors, which feature lighter color palettes in First and Business Class.
A6-EVM was the first aircraft in Emirates’ overhaul program to be taken apart and “refitting the parts again in a carefully planned and tested sequence” at the airline’s engineering center in DXB in November. The entire process takes about 16 days per aircraft. The airline plans to have around 20-30 aircraft with the new interior by mid-2023, as announced in June.
“Customers will notice the difference the moment they step onboard – the spacious A380 will look and feel even more impressive and comfortable. With our latest interiors and products, this newly refurbished aircraft elevates our inflight experience in all classes of travel, and enables us to offer more Premium Economy seats to meet customer demand. I’m particularly proud that this refurbishment work was designed, conducted and completed inhouse at our facilities in Dubai, to the highest standards of quality and safety. It reflects the world-class aviation capabilities and infrastructure that exists within Emirates, and here in the UAE.”
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline
Emirates Retrofit Program
The fully renovated A380 features Emirates’ latest products and interiors in all cabins, including 56 Premium Economy class seats on the main deck, and new color palettes in the carpeting and wall panels. On the upper deck, First and Business Class seats have Emirates’ latest cream-colored leather upholstery and lighter-toned wood finishes, similar to the airline’s “game changer” product. The interiors also feature prominently the ghaf tree motif, including hand-stencilled panels in the First Class Shower Spa.
The plan of the program
Emirates will first renovate 67 of its A380s before moving on to the Boeing 777-300ER, 53 of which will receive the updated interior. The airline hired 190 new employees for the project, which it calls “the largest known aircraft refurbishment program in aviation history,” and its 48 major partners and suppliers also hired hundreds of skilled workers.
As the overhaul program continues, engineers will work on two aircraft at a time. This means that one aircraft will be taken out of service every eight days and moved to the Emirates Engineering facilities for refurbishment. By 2024, all 67 A380s scheduled for renovation will have returned to service. Emirates will then begin renovating its 53 Boeing 777s. The airline expects to complete the program in 2025.
In conclusion
With the completion of its first refurbished Airbus A380, Emirates is well on its way to completing its $2 billion program to update a total of 120 A380s and 777-300ERs. The renovated aircraft boasts the airline’s latest cabin interiors, including a lighter color palette in First and Business Class and 56 Premium Economy seats on the main deck. The refurbishment process, which is being conducted in-house at the airline’s engineering center in Dubai, is expected to be completed in 2025. As the overhaul program continues, passengers can look forward to experiencing the upgraded comfort and amenities offered by these newly renovated aircraft.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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Bassem Youssef