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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe target is to completely retrofit four Emirates aircraft from start to finish every month, continuously for over two years. Once the 67 earmarked A380s are refreshed and back in service, 53 777s will undergo their facelift. This will see nearly 4,000 brand new Premium Economy seats installed, 728 First Class suites refurbished and over 5,000 Business Class seats upgraded to a new style and design when the project is complete in April 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, carpets and stairs will be upgraded, and cabin interior panels refreshed with new tones and design motifs, including the iconic ghaf trees native to the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No other airline has handled a retrofit of this magnitude in-house, and there\u2019s no blueprint for such an undertaking. Therefore Emirates Engineering teams have been planning and testing extensively to establish and streamline processes and identify and address any possible snags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trials began on an A380 in July, where experienced engineers took each cabin apart piece by piece and logged every step. Every action was tested, timed and mapped out by removing seats and panelling to bolts and screws. Potential impediments to completing the installation of Emirates’ new Premium Economy Class or the retrofit of the remaining three cabins in just 16 days were flagged and documented for expert teams to review and address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the programme, new purpose-built workshops will be set up at Emirates Engineering to repaint, re-trim and re-upholster Business and Economy Class seats with new covers and cushions. First Class suites will be carefully disassembled and sent to a specialised company to replace the leather, armrests and other materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the trials, engineers discovered several unexpected solutions. For instance, existing food catering trucks could be easily repurposed to move parts destined for refurbishment from the aircraft to the workshop for their refresh, as these vehicles had doors of the right width and offered sufficient space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until the retrofit programme starts in earnest in November, a cross-disciplinary team has been assembled to regularly review the planning process, address any issues, and track updates on various aspects of the project, such as procurement, staffing, and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emirates\u2019 new Premium Economy cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom, and service to rival many airlines\u2019 business offerings, is currently available to Emirates customers travelling on popular A380 routes to London, Paris, and Sydney. More customers will be able to experience the airline\u2019s new Premium Economy cabins starting from year-end as the retrofit programme picks up momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ttrweekly.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1-12-1-600x400.jpg\")
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