DUBAI: Emirates has moved forward with plans to revamp the interior cabins of 120 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, two of the largest commercial aircraft types in service today.
The multibillion-dollar project will begin in November and will be managed entirely by Emirates Engineering, which aims to totally refurbish four aircraft each month over the next two years.
On completion in April 2025, almost 4,000 new premium economy seats will be installed, 728 first-class suites refurbished and over 5,000 business-class seats upgraded to a new style and design.
Carpets and stairs will also be upgraded, and cabin interior panels will be given new tones and design motifs, including the ghaf trees native to the UAE.
Emirates said that no other airline has attempted an in-house retrofit of this magnitude.
Engineering teams have carried out extensive planning and testing to streamline processes, and anticipate any potential roadblocks.
Trials began on an A380 in July, with engineers disassembling each cabin piece by piece and logging every step.
“From removing seats and paneling to bolts and screws, every action was tested, timed and mapped out,” the airline said on Wednesday.
A cross-disciplinary team has been assembled to monitor the planning process until the start of the project in November.