DUBAI- UAE’s flag carrier Emirates Airline (EK) is expanding its fleet of retrofitted aircraft to 8 additional destinations, bringing its upgraded cabin experience to more travelers.
The airline will deploy refreshed Airbus A380s to Bangkok (BKK), Hong Kong (HKG), Nice (NCE), and Perth (PER), while upgraded Boeing 777s will serve Madrid (MAD), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Phuket (HKT), and Frankfurt (FRA).
The carrier will also introduce its first long-range Airbus A350 to Adelaide (ADL) beginning December 1, 2025, highlighting Australia’s strategic importance in Emirates’ network. This expansion increases the number of cities served by Emirates’ refurbished aircraft and new A350s to over 70 destinations.
Photo: Sam Chui Photos, Shared by EmiratesEmirates Retrofitted A380 and 777 Routes
Emirates’ retrofit program continues at an impressive pace, with engineering teams completing aircraft makeovers every three weeks. The airline’s Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, emphasizes that this expansion establishes Emirates as an industry leader in Premium Economy seating, creating a strategic differentiator in the market.
The deployment schedule includes:
- Bangkok (BKK): Refreshed A380 on flights EK372/373 from July 1, 2025
- Hong Kong (HKG): First four-class A380 with latest interiors on EK380/381 from October 1
- Nice (NCE): Premium Economy debut on EK077/078 from October 15
- Perth (PER): Latest-generation A380 on EK420/421 from October 26, becoming Australia’s fourth city with this service
- Madrid (MAD): Enhanced Boeing 777 interiors on EK143/144 from October 15, marking Spain’s first destination with next-gen cabins
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL): Retrofitted Boeing 777 on EK346/347 from October 15
- Frankfurt (FRA): Introduction of latest generation cabins on EK043/044 from December 15, representing Germany’s first Emirates upgrade
- Phuket (HKT): Upgraded Boeing 777 on daily EK396/397 from December 1
- Dublin (DUB): Second refitted Boeing 777 arriving December 1
Emirates Airbus A350 | Photo: Clément AlloingEmirates A350 to Australia
Adelaide (ADL) will become the first city in Emirates’ network to receive the long-range Airbus A350-900ULR on routes EK440/441 starting December 1.
With a range exceeding 14,000 km and the ability to stay airborne for over 15 hours, these aircraft will feature 32 lie-flat Business Class seats, 28 Premium Economy seats, and 238 Economy Class seats.
By late 2025, Emirates expects to become one of the top airlines for Premium Economy capacity, offering over 2 million seats annually across more than 70 cities. This figure is projected to double to 4 million seats by the end of 2026.
Current Premium Economy seat loads average over 80% on long-haul routes, demonstrating strong demand for elevated travel experiences.
Photo- EmiratesWorld’s Largest Retrofit Program
Emirates’ $5 billion retrofit program represents an unmatched investment in aviation, focused entirely on enhancing the customer experience. Over 270 engineers and technicians work continuously, dedicating more than 1,800 man-hours daily to complete each aircraft transformation.
The refurbishment process takes approximately 22 days for an A380 and 18 days for a Boeing 777, with two aircraft completing the program monthly.
Upon completion, Emirates will have installed 8,512 Premium Economy seats, 2,034 refreshed First-Class suites, 12,720 upgraded Business Class seats, and 68,364 renovated Economy Class seats.
The materials required for this comprehensive upgrade include 218,000 meters of fabric for Economy Class, 130,000 square meters of leather for premium cabins, 132,000 square meters of carpeting, and 14,000 square meters of laminate for cabin walls.
Featured Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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Emirates Adds 7 New Destinations Served with A350
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