The Emirates upgrade program is entering its next phase, with 60 A380 aircraft and 51 Boeing 777s set to receive the airline’s latest cabin innovations. From August 2026, the airline will introduce a series of new inflight products, as well as a fully upgraded next-generation entertainment system with enhanced Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity, as part of its extensive fleet modernization effort.
Emirates Engineering, in collaboration with Airbus, Safran, Recaro, Panasonic, Starlink and UUDS, will introduce state-of-the-art seat designs and a new inflight lounge across 60 A380 aircraft, combined with Panasonic’s advanced Astrova entertainment system. The goal is to offer passengers an upgraded and consistent experience as a total of 111 aircraft enter the upgrade program.
The airline plays a decisive role in driving innovation, working closely with aircraft manufacturers and suppliers to continuously enhance passenger comfort, privacy and the overall travel experience. Its commitment to excellence leads to ongoing dialogue with its partners about the latest developments in cabin equipment, inflight entertainment systems and advanced cabin technologies, while also making significant investments to achieve its long-term goals.
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, stated: “The Emirates upgrade program aims to continuously raise standards across our entire fleet. In collaboration with our long-term partners, we are taking another step forward to deliver high-quality, consistent products at scale, while incorporating next-generation innovations in seating, entertainment and connectivity that will debut with our new fleet. Our customers expect an exceptional experience every time they fly with Emirates, and this investment ensures that we will continue to deliver on that promise for many years to come, wherever they travel with us.”
Business Class on both the A380 and the Boeing 777 will be upgraded with Emirates’ latest-generation seats, inspired by Safran’s luxurious leather S Lounge seats already used on the airline’s A350 fleet. Each seat creates a more private space, with thoughtful details enhancing the journey—from integrated wireless charging on the side table to customizable seat lighting. Customers will enjoy 4K entertainment, carefully designed storage spaces, mini-bar amenities and multiple charging options, including USB-C ports and wireless charging.
Premium Economy, Emirates’ newest cabin class, will feature Recaro’s advanced seating technology with a mechanical recline system. The spacious leather seats will continue to offer comfort through integrated footrests, adjustable headrests and thoughtful amenities such as in-seat charging, a side table and a 13.3-inch entertainment screen, achieving the perfect balance between value and luxury.
Economy Class customers will benefit from the introduction of the new lightweight Safran Z400 seats, specially designed for long-haul flights, with every detail crafted for comfort and convenience. This includes an eight-position adjustable headrest for unmatched neck and head support, alongside other carefully designed technological features.
Cutting-edge entertainment and connectivity
Emirates has selected Panasonic Avionics to upgrade inflight entertainment products on A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft with the groundbreaking Astrova platform, underscoring the airline’s commitment to next-generation experiences.
Emirates customers will enjoy stunning picture quality on 4K OLED HDR10+ displays reminiscent of premium home cinema systems, with vibrant colours, infinite contrast and deeply rich blacks that deliver each frame with extraordinary fidelity. Spatial Audio provides immersive, multidimensional sound, whether through Emirates’ premium headsets or passengers’ personal wireless devices via Bluetooth. A powerful 67W USB-C port at every seat ensures all devices remain fully charged throughout the flight. Meanwhile, the system’s modular design allows for independent upgrades to screens, power supply and connectivity as technology advances.
The platform also integrates Panasonic’s Arc 3D 4K Moving Map, offering an engaging flight-tracking experience. Seamlessly integrated with Emirates Skywards, the platform’s smart recommendation engine learns individual preferences to offer personalized content throughout the flight. Behind the scenes, real-time data enables Emirates to continuously improve its entertainment library, ensuring the selection always reflects what customers want to watch, listen to and explore.
Emirates is further enhancing the travel experience with Starlink connectivity across its fleet, installed in parallel with the cabin upgrade program on A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. This coordinated rollout, integrating connectivity installations into the existing upgrade process, accelerates the delivery of the full Emirates experience across its global network.
A consistent experience on every journey
The upgrade program builds on Emirates’ long tradition of continuous investment in its products and services. Initially announced in 2021 with 120 aircraft planned for full refurbishment, the program expanded to 191 aircraft in May 2024 and later to 219 aircraft within the same year, reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across its fleet. To date, 76 aircraft have already been refurbished, with each A380 requiring approximately 22 days of work and each Boeing 777 roughly 18 days. The program is progressing steadily, with two fully refurbished aircraft joining the fleet each month, ready to elevate the travel experience on routes worldwide.
ABOUT EMIRATES
Emirates’ presence in the Greek market began in 1996. Over the past 29 years, Emirates has offered its renowned services to more than 4.5 million passengers in Greece. As the first airline to connect Athens directly with Dubai, Emirates has since March 2017 also offered the only direct, daily flight connecting Greece with the United States, operating 365 days a year. Passengers flying with Emirates can enjoy movies and programmes across more than 5,000 channels on ice, the airline’s award-winning entertainment system. They can also experience the excellent hospitality and personalized service provided by Emirates’ international, multicultural cabin crew. Having launched operations in 1985 with just two aircraft, Emirates is now the world’s largest international airline.
