Emirates has completed its first Emirates A380 retrofit of a two-class aircraft, introducing its popular Premium Economy cabin to the upper deck.
The newly refurbished aircraft, registered as A6-EUX, has already entered service on the Dubai-Birmingham route as flight EK 39/40. Following the upgrade, passengers can now choose between 76 Business Class seats, 56 Premium Economy seats, and 437 Economy Class seats.
This milestone forms part of Emirates’ multi-billion-dollar retrofit programme, which aims to modernise large sections of its fleet and create a more consistent onboard experience across aircraft.
Premium Economy added to the upper deck
One of the biggest highlights of the Emirates A380 retrofit is the addition of the airline’s Premium Economy cabin in a 2-3-2 seating layout on the upper deck.
Passengers travelling in the cabin can expect wider leather seats with extra recline, adjustable headrests, built-in charging ports, footrests, and larger entertainment screens. Emirates has also included upgraded dining options as part of the Premium Economy experience.
Refreshed interiors can now be seen throughout the aircraft, including updated carpets, modern cabin finishes, and design details inspired by the Ghaf tree.
Inside the Emirates retrofit project
Work on the aircraft was carried out entirely by Emirates Engineering in Dubai. Engineers removed 120 Economy Class seats from the upper deck to create space for the new Premium Economy cabin and additional Business Class seating.
The refurbishment also involved structural and technical upgrades, including modifications to storage areas, partitions, plumbing systems, electrical systems, and galley sections.
Around 50 engineers and technicians worked on the project over two months, completing close to 35,000 man-hours using more than 2,500 different parts.
Emirates plans to retrofit all 15 of its two-class A380 aircraft by the end of 2026 as part of its wider fleet modernisation programme.
