Emirates Retrofit Programme Reaches 100 Aircraft

Emirates Upgrades 100 Aircraft Under Retrofit Programme

Emirates has completed the refurbishment of 100 aircraft under its ongoing retrofit programme, marking a key milestone in the airline’s fleet modernisation plans.

Since the programme began in November 2022, Emirates has refurbished 47 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s at its Engineering Centre in Dubai. By the end of 2026, the airline expects to upgrade around 20 more aircraft, moving beyond the halfway stage of its US$5 billion investment.

Fleet Upgrade Progress

Over the past 44 months, more than 400 engineers and technicians have worked on the programme, contributing 4.4 million man-hours to refurbish aircraft interiors.

Each aircraft has undergone a complete cabin refurbishment, including the installation of Premium Economy cabins. So far, more than 3,800 Premium Economy seats have been fitted, allowing the airline to introduce the cabin class on additional routes across its network.

Emirates Statement

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said:

“Our commitment to improving the customer experience across every cabin continues with the completion of 100 refurbished wide-body aircraft. This programme reflects our investment in enhancing comfort and cabin products while demonstrating the engineering capabilities of our teams in Dubai.”

Engineering the Retrofit

During each refurbishment, engineers remove and replace cabin interiors using more than:

• 4,000 parts for each Airbus A380
• 2,500 parts for each Boeing 777

To support the programme, Emirates Engineering developed specialised equipment, modified catering vehicles to transport large components, and introduced new tracking and storage systems. The airline has also worked with more than 100 suppliers throughout the project.

Programme Expansion

Originally announced in 2021 to cover 105 aircraft, the retrofit programme was expanded to 191 aircraft in 2024, then to 219 in late 2024.

The first retrofitted Boeing 777 entered commercial service in August 2024, while the first Airbus A380 featuring Premium Economy on the upper deck was completed in May 2026.

From October 2026, Emirates plans to begin the next phase of the programme, introducing 4K OLED HDR10+ seatback screens, Safran Z400 seats and additional cabin upgrades.

Supporting Sustainability

Materials removed during the refurbishment process, including leather and cabin fabrics, are being repurposed through the ‘Aircrafted by Emirates’ initiative into travel accessories and other products.

The airline has also donated more than 4,000 backpacks made from recycled aircraft seat fabric to children across 11 countries, supporting its wider sustainability efforts.

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