Dubai-based carrier Emirates said on Wednesday it had completed the first-ever retrofit of a two-class Airbus A380 aircraft, introducing a Premium Economy cabin to the upper deck as part of its multi-billion-dollar fleet modernisation programme.

The airline said the refurbished aircraft, registered A6-EUX, had entered commercial service operating as flight EK39/40 between Dubai and Birmingham, featuring updated interiors and a new three-class configuration comprising Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

According to a press release issued by Emirates on Wednesday, the aircraft is the first of 15 two-class A380s scheduled for renovation under the airline’s wider retrofit programme aimed at standardising passenger experience across its fleet.

The reconfigured aircraft now includes 76 Business Class seats, 56 Premium Economy seats, and 437 Economy Class seats. For the first time on a two-class A380, Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin has been installed on the upper deck in a 2-3-2 seating layout.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline, said the retrofit programme was designed to deliver a more consistent onboard experience across the carrier’s network.

“The reconfiguration of our two-class A380 into a three-class layout that brings our popular Premium Economy seating onto the upper deck illustrates the extensive capabilities of our team,” Clark said in a statement.

The airline said Emirates Engineering in Dubai carried out the project entirely in-house and made extensive structural modifications to the aircraft. Engineers removed 120 Economy Class seats from the upper deck to create space for the new Premium Economy section and additional Business Class seats, alongside upgrades to storage areas, cabin fittings, electrical systems, and plumbing.

Emirates said around 50 engineers and technicians worked approximately 35,000 hours on the aircraft over two months using more than 2,500 different components. Future retrofits of similar aircraft are expected to take around 30 days as processes become more streamlined.

The retrofit programme, first announced in 2021, has so far covered 95 Emirates aircraft, including 42 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s, representing more than one-third of the airline’s current fleet. Initially planned to cover 120 aircraft, the programme was later expanded to 219 aircraft following positive customer feedback, Emirates said.

For passengers, the changes are expected to offer greater cabin consistency and expanded access to Premium Economy services, a segment increasingly popular among long-haul travellers seeking upgraded comfort without business-class pricing.

The upgraded Premium Economy cabin includes wider leather seats, extended recline, adjustable headrests, charging ports, cocktail tables, and larger personal entertainment screens, according to the airline.

The move comes as major global carriers continue investing in cabin upgrades and premium travel offerings to attract higher-yield customers amid strong post-pandemic demand for international travel.

Emirates expects to retrofit all 15 of its two-class A380 aircraft by the end of 2026. The airline also said materials removed during cabin refurbishments are being assessed for reuse as part of an upcycling initiative, including luggage products and children’s backpacks made from repurposed aircraft materials.

Source: Emirates PR