Emirates has entered the next phase of its fleet retrofit programme, with 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s scheduled to receive the airline’s latest cabin products from August 2026.
The upgrades include new seating, an onboard lounge, a next-generation inflight entertainment system and Starlink connectivity as part of wider fleet modernisation plans.
Emirates Engineering, working with Airbus, Safran, Recaro, Panasonic, Starlink and UUDS, will install the latest seating designs and an onboard lounge on 60 A380s. The aircraft will feature Panasonic’s Astrova inflight entertainment system across the 111 aircraft set for retrofit in this phase.
Emirates sets August 2026 start for major cabin and IFE upgrades
The airline said it works with aircraft manufacturers and suppliers on cabin furnishings, inflight entertainment systems and cabin technologies. It added that it makes significant investments to meet long-term plans.
“Emirates’ retrofit programme is about continuously elevating standards across our entire fleet. Working with our long-standing partners, we’re taking this commitment a step further with the aim of delivering product consistency at scale, in tandem with next-generation innovations in seating, entertainment, and connectivity being brought into service with our newly delivered fleet. 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, wherever they travel with us,” Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said in a statement.
Business Class on the A380 and Boeing 777 will receive Emirates’ latest generation seating, inspired by the Safran S Lounge leather seats used on the A350 fleet.
Features include wireless charging, customisable in-seat lighting, 4K ice entertainment, storage, minibar amenities and multiple charging options including USB-C and wireless ports.
Premium Economy will include Recaro seating with a mechanical recline system. Seats include integrated leg and footrests, adjustable headrests, in-seat charging, a side cocktail table and a 13.3-inch entertainment screen.
Economy Class will receive Safran Z400 seats designed for long-haul operations, including an eight-way adjustable headrest and other technology-focused elements.
Inflight entertainment and connectivity
Emirates has selected Panasonic Avionics to upgrade inflight entertainment on A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. The Astrova platform includes 4K OLED HDR10+ screens, Spatial Audio, Bluetooth connectivity, and 67W USB-C charging at every seat.
The modular design allows independent upgrades to displays, power systems and connectivity.
The platform includes Panasonic Arc 3D 4K Moving Map and integrates with the Emirates Skywards programme through a recommendation engine that suggests content based on user preferences.
Real-time engagement data will support ongoing refinements to the entertainment library.
The airline will also roll out Starlink connectivity across the fleet, installed simultaneously with the retrofit programme.
The retrofit programme was first announced in 2021 with 120 aircraft. It was expanded to 191 aircraft in May 2024 and later increased to 219 aircraft.
To date, 76 aircraft have been refurbished. Each A380 requires about 22 days for retrofit and each Boeing 777 requires 18 days. Two refurbished aircraft enter service each month.
