Emirates announced the next phase of its long-term retrofit program, with a series of cabin upgrades designed to elevate comfort, connectivity and the overall passenger experience. The Dubai-based carrier, was the winner of multiple Best International Airline awards in 2025.
Emirates Cabin Upgrades
Emirates was also named YouGov’s top UAE brand for 2025 with a score of 88.4, continues to invest heavily in technology and service enhancements to maintain its lead in the global market. The airline’s latest plan covers 60 Airbus A380s and 51 Boeing 777s, all scheduled to receive the refreshed interiors beginning in August 2026. These airline upgrades build on Emirates’ strategy to improve consistency and quality as another YouGov survey from 2025 ranks Emirates at the top for customer satisfaction with in-flight snacks and drinks.
Economy Class will introduce Safran’s Z400 seats, a new long-haul design focused on delivering comfort. The seats offer improved headrest support and technology features to enhance convenience on extended flights.
Premium Economy, one of the most successful additions to Emirates cabins, will see enhancements through Recaro-designed leather seating. The retrofit program in the cabin includes a mechanical recline system, leg and footrests, personal charging points, a side table and a 13.3-inch entertainment screen intended to balance comfort with value.
Business Class will undergo a significant transformation with Emirates’ latest seating generation, inspired by Safran’s S-Lounge design. The updated seats offer greater privacy, adjustable ambient lighting, minibar elements, wireless charging and multiple power outlets. Each seat also includes upgraded storage options and a 4K entertainment display.
Next-Generation Entertainment and Connectivity
Passengers will experience a major shift in inflight technology through new 4K OLED HDR10+ screens, Spatial Audio and Bluetooth connectivity. The aircraft will also feature a redesigned 3D 4K moving map in partnership with Panasonic, offering a more immersive way to follow the flight route.
Wi-Fi performance is set to improve as well, thanks to Emirates’ partnership with Starlink, which will be installed as part of the overall retrofit schedule.
Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, said the initiative reflects the company’s long-standing focus on product consistency and innovation: ‘Our customers expect an excellent experience every time they fly Emirates, and this investment ensures we deliver on that promise in the years to come.’
The retrofit project, first launched in 2021, has expanded to 219 aircraft, with 76 already refurbished. According to Emirates official sources each A380 requires about 22 days of work, while each Boeing 777 takes around 18 days, with two completed aircraft returning to service monthly. These updates form an essential part of the broader Emirates cabin upgrades effort to refresh the experience across the entire network.
How has your experience of comfort and luxury been when flying with Emirates? Share your thoughts in the comments!
