Emirates Unveils Plans to Retrofit 191 Aircraft, Including Boeing 777 Upgrade

Emirates announced today an ambitious expansion of its aircraft refurbishment program, signaling its commitment to providing an unparalleled travel experience for its customers.

The initiative now includes refurbishing an additional 43 A380s and 28 Boeing 777s, bringing the total number of aircraft undergoing full refurbishment to 191.

Originally slated for 120 aircraft, comprising 67 A380s and 53 777s, the program’s extension reflects Emirates’ dedication to maintaining the excellence of its fleet. The Boeing 777 remains the backbone of the Emirates fleet, while the A380 continues to be a customer favorite, serving as the airline’s flagship.

Emirates has already retrofitted 22 A380s, with plans to commence the interior refresh of the first Boeing 777 in July. Each Boeing 777 will undergo approximately two weeks of refurbishment before re-entering service. Notable upgrades include a refreshed First-Class cabin, new Business Class seats featuring an updated 1-2-1 seating configuration, and the introduction of 24 Premium Economy seats, expanding premium options for travelers.

With the addition of the Premium Economy cabin, Emirates’ Boeing 777 will feature 332 seats across four classes: eight First Class suites, 40 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 260 Economy Class seats. To accommodate the new Premium Economy cabin, 50 Economy seats will be removed.

Emirates’ in-house Engineering Centre is managing and executing the refurbishment work for its fleet, with over 250 project personnel working tirelessly, supported by 31 major partners and suppliers. These partners have established workshops both onsite and offsite to deliver the refreshed cabins efficiently.

Upon completion of the retrofit program, Emirates will have installed 8,104 next-generation Premium Economy seats, 1,894 refreshed First Class suites, 11,182 upgraded Business Class seats, and 21,814 Economy Class seats across its fleet.

Emirates currently operates refurbished A380 aircraft with Premium Economy on various routes, including to destinations such as New York JFK, Los Angeles, London Heathrow, Sydney, and Dubai. The airline plans to expand services with the new cabin to Osaka in early June.

By February 2025, Emirates aims to offer Premium Economy services to 42 cities, with the introduction of the A350 to its fleet in September and the refurbished Boeing 777s set to serve more cities with the highly sought-after cabin later in the summer.