Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 19, Emirates is entering the next phase of its fleet retrofit programme, with 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s scheduled for cabin upgrades starting August 2026. The refurbishment will introduce new seating, a next-generation Panasonic Astrova in-flight entertainment system, and upgraded Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity, as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet modernisation. Emirates Engineering, working with partners Airbus, Safran, Recaro, Panasonic, Starlink, and UUDS, will deliver a consistent, elevated passenger experience across these aircraft.

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said: “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.”

Business Class on the A380 and 777 will feature Emirates’ latest-generation seats, inspired by Safran’s S Lounge leather design, offering privacy, integrated wireless charging, customizable lighting, minibar amenities, and 4K ICE entertainment. Premium Economy seats, using Recaro technology, include adjustable headrests, integrated leg and footrests, side cocktail tables, in-seat charging, and 13.3-inch screens. Economy Class will get lightweight Safran Z400 seats designed for long-haul comfort with adjustable headrests and ergonomic features.

Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova platform will provide 4K OLED HDR10+ displays with Spatial Audio, 67W USB-C charging, Bluetooth connectivity, and immersive flight-tracking via the Arc 3D 4K Moving Map. The system integrates with Emirates Skywards to provide personalized content recommendations. Starlink connectivity will be installed fleet-wide alongside the cabin retrofits to enhance global connectivity.

Emirates and Safran Seats have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a seat manufacturing and assembly facility in Dubai. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline, said: “This agreement with Safran marks a pivotal and strategic cooperation that establishes Dubai as an aerospace manufacturing hub. We’re bringing world-class seat production capabilities and supply chain to our doorstep, creating highly skilled jobs, and developing capabilities to support Emirates and produce seats for export to other carriers.” The facility is expected to be completed by Q4 2027, initially assembling up to 1,000 Business Class seats per year.

In addition, Emirates and South African Airways are enhancing their partnership with a reciprocal codeshare agreement, providing seamless travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, and 13 regional African points, while connecting to Emirates’ global network. The agreement was signed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and CCO, and Professor M. John Lamola, CEO of South African Airways. Emirates will also add a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town from 1 July 2026, increasing seat capacity by over 600 seats per day.

These initiatives highlight Emirates’ commitment to passenger comfort, connectivity, and network expansion, supported by strategic industrial partnerships and operational enhancements.