The original plan called for 120 aircraft - 67 A380s and 53 777s to undergo full refurbishment. The Boeing 777 remains the backbone of the Emirates fleet, and the A380 is the airline’s flagship customer favourite, and the expansion of the refurbishment programme ensures Emirates continues to provide customers with an unparalleled travel experience.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “We’re topping up our multi-billion dollar investment in the retrofit programme to introduce cutting-edge cabin products on more of our A380s and Boeing 777s, demonstrating a clear commitment to elevating the customer experience with a best-in-class suite of products across every cabin. The addition of more aircraft  fitted with our newest generation seats, updated cabin finishings and a contemporary colour palette also marks a significant step in ensuring more customers can consistently experience our premium products across both aircraft types.”

Emirates has retrofitted 22 A380 aircraft so far, and in July of this year, the first Boeing 777 will undergo an interior refresh.  Each Boeing 777 aircraft will take approximately two weeks to refurbish before entering service. Plans include the refurbishment of the First-Class cabin, all new Business Class seats making a debut on the aircraft in an updated 1-2-1 seating configuration, in addition to 24 of the latest Premium Economy seats, giving customers more premium options to choose from.

Along with the addition of the Premium Economy cabin, the Emirates Boeing 777 will be configured with 332 seats in four classes, featuring eight First Class suites, 40 Business Class seats, and 260 Economy Class seats. To make room for the new Premium Economy cabin, 50 Economy seats will be removed.

Refurbishment work for the Emirates fleet is completely being managed and executed in-house at the airline’s Engineering Centre, with over 250 project personnel currently working round the clock, supported by 31 major partners and suppliers who have set up workshops both in the facility and offsite to deliver the refreshed cabins.

Once the last aircraft rolls out of the retrofit programme and the project is fully complete, the airline 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. 

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed was officially welcomed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer, who gave a tour of the airline’s latest products, including its popular Premium Economy seat.

Emirates’ full Premium Economy cabin experience was unveiled during the 2022 edition of the Arabian Travel Market and is currently available on routes to 15 cities. This will expand to 16 cities in June, as a four-class Emirates A380 is deployed on flights to Osaka, and to nine more cities by January 2025, as Emirates today announced the first destinations to be served with its new A350 aircraft which will also offer Premium Economy cabins.

Emirates  welcomed Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin; Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and Dieter Janecek, Federal Government Coordinator of the Maritime Industry and Tourism, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and other senior officials to its stand during the Official Opening Tour of ITB Berlin, starting this year’s edition of the world’s leading travel trade show. Members of the VIP delegation were officially welcomed by Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline and Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer.

The officials were given a tour of the airline’s Economy Class seat display with its latest amenities, as well as the iconic A380 Onboard Lounge. Emirates has planned three action-packed days at ITB Berlin, aiming to strengthen and forge new strategic partnerships across the regional travel and aviation ecosystem. 

Emirates has been serving Germany for more than 35 years and remains committed to supporting tourism and the local economy in the market.

As the exclusive partner of Airbus for the first 15 ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft, Comlux Completion maintains its ability to craft the most sophisticated and technologically advanced aircraft cabins ever envisioned. The resulting ACJ TwoTwenty combines intercontinental range, unmatched personal space, and state of the art technology, positioning it as the most advanced high-end corporate jet available on the market.

Richard Gaona, Comlux executive chairman and CEO said: “Just eight months after the first ACJ TwoTwenty left Comlux completion and maintenance centre in Indianapolis and entered into service, the second one is being delivered to the end client now, while cabin outfitting of the third ACJ TwoTwenty is in full swing and planned to be finished by end of 2024. In addition to that, the fourth ACJ TwoTwenty is arriving to Comlux Completion as a green aircraft in a few days, and we will be commencing its cabin outfitting as soon as it reaches our facilities. From 2025 onwards, we are targeting to deliver 4 to 6 ACJ TwoTwenty cabins per year. The ACJ TwoTwenty that is leaving our facilities today will be operated by Comlux Aviation which accentuates our ability to provide Comlux clients not only with cabin outfitting but also with aircraft operation services.”

The event kicked off at Guarulhos Airport, Terminal 3, after which guests were given a guided tour of the brand new product, as well as the enhanced interior across all cabin classes on board the Emirates A380. Guests took in the highlights of the exclusive Premium Economy experience that awaits travellers.

“We are honoured to celebrate the launch of Emirates Premium Economy in Brazil. Emirates Premium Economy has been available in Brazil from November and we are delighted to deploy the product on all of our daily flights between São Paulo and Dubai from 11 December. We are the only airline offering the Premium Economy experience on direct flights between São Paulo and the Middle East and this is part of our commitment to offering customers more choice when making travel plans,” said Stephane Perard, Emirates’ Country Manager for Brazil and Argentina.

“The experience of flying in Premium Economy has been winning over more and more travellers. It is an important offering for long-distance flights, especially in markets where there is a significant corporate traveler segment and audiences who prefer premium travel, such as in São Paulo. The arrival of this new Emirates Premium Economy offering to the Brazilian market will make the passenger experience on board even better,” said João Pita - chief commercial officer, Guarulhos International Airport.

The awards follow in quick succession from the global edition of the World Travel Awards 2023 on Friday 1 December, where Etihad celebrated a hat-trick with Best Customer Experience, Best Economy Class and Best First Class Lounge.

The DesignAir judges commented: “Etihad has not just shone in its own region where it was crowned Design Airline of the Year Middle East, 2023 – but also our most prestigious award – Design Airline of the Year, 2023. Etihad has proven itself above all other carriers across the globe as this year’s leading global design airline.”

The award recognises Etihad’s continued investment in guest experience, which this year has included the introduction of new menus and the launch of a new design-led and sustainable Economy dining experience. The airline also welcomed a new partnership with Armani/Casa to elevate the soft furnishings and tableware in Etihad’s acclaimed Business class experience.

The airport passenger experience has also been improved following the opening of Terminal A, Etihad’s new home at Abu Dhabi International Airport, in November. The new terminal provides Etihad’s guests with a streamlined and biometric check-in experience, dedicated premium check-in services and a three-storey Business and First class lounge facility.

Etihad has also received the ‘Most Improved Airline Brand’ in this year’s awards, reflecting its monumental year.

This November, the airline celebrated its 20th anniversary and unveiled a roadmap for growth as part of its ‘Journey 2030’ vision, and an expanded network for 2024. Etihad also recently revealed the impressive cabin interiors on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft which offer enhanced levels of comfort and privacy for guests.

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways’ CEO, said: “This year is a proud and pivotal moment for Etihad. As we continue to invest in creating innovative and memorable experiences for our guests, we are thrilled to be recognised as design leaders in this year’s DesignAir awards.

"On behalf of the entire Etihad family, I want to express our deepest gratitude to our dedicated team members and our loyal customers. This prestigious recognition as the

‘Design Airline of the Year 2023’ and ‘Most Improved Airline Brand’ is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our Etihad family. We are proud and honoured by the trust and support of our customers. Thank you for being a part of our journey.”

Jonny Clark, Founder of The DesignAir, said: “Etihad has worked tirelessly for a few years now improving its product, image and consistency across its fleet. It’s for these very reasons we’re proud to award Etihad as the most improved airline brand this year. The airline hasn’t stopped in its efforts to elevate the passenger experience in the skies and on the ground.”

Featuring a bespoke selection of fragrance and skincare products, the finely crafted kits draw inspiration from Oman’s nature and heritage, reflected in their soothing sand and cocoa tones. Available for guests in premium cabins, exceptional attention has been given to the materials, ensuring their enduring appeal for in-flight use and beyond.

With exclusive designs for men and women, the First Class kits feature iconic Amouage fragrances, Epic Man and Epic Woman, with a luxurious assortment of hand & body lotion, facial moisturiser and lip balm, as well as socks, eye mask, hand cleansing gel, mouthwash and 3M earplugs.

The kit for Business Class passengers is a functional unisex folio design containing Amouage fragrance, Meander, facial moisturiser and lip balm, in addition to socks, eye mask, hand cleansing gel, mouthwash and 3M earplugs.

Designed with sustainability as a key consideration, the stylish pouches are ideal for reuse and repurpose beyond the flight. In addition, all unnecessary packaging has been removed to ensure minimal waste.

This includes a US $1 billion deal for the latest generation Safran Seats for Emirates’ new fleet of Airbus A350, Boeing 777X-9 and existing Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

The agreement includes Business, Premium Economy and Economy class seats for the Emirates Airbus A350, and Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats for the Boeing 777X-9.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Safran is a key partner for Emirates and we’re working closely to reimagine and elevate our future cabins with smart design and the latest technologies. These have been decisive factors in our selection of seat types which will be customised for Emirates.  Today’s announcement is significant not only because it cements the partnership between Emirates and Safran, but also because it supports aviation manufacturing and the wider value chain in France and across Europe.”

“Safran is very proud of our longstanding strategic alliance with Emirates,” added Safran CEO Olivier Andriès. “The continuation of our 30-year partnership underscores Safran’s commitment to innovative solutions for aircraft interiors, critical aircraft equipment and services to ensure the best possible passenger experience. Today’s agreements set the stage for Safran’s continued growth along with our customer, a leader in the global market. More than ever, we are looking ahead to the future.”