Emirates has reconfigured the first of its two-class A380 aircraft with its popular premium economy product added upstairs— for the first time.
The refreshed plane has re-entered service and features EK’s latest in-flight offering with 76 seats in business class, 56 in premium economy and 437 in economy class.
. . . New Look
The new top floor premium economy cabin is configured in a 2-3-2 layout. The leather seats offer full leg and footrests, six-way adjustable headrests, built-in charging ports, side cocktail tables and a 13.3-inch personal screen, with elevated dining options. A total of 120 economy seats were taken out of the top level of the plane to make room for 18 more business class seats and the premium economy cabin.
EK Engineering in Dubai is overseeing the retrofit program of 95 EK planes including 42 A380s and 53 777s, more than one third of EK’s current fleet of aircraft.
“The reconfiguration of our two class A380 into three-class layout that brings our popular Premium Economy seating onto the upper deck illustrates the extensive capabilities of our team,” says EK group president Sir Tim Clark.
Further retrofits of other two-class A380 aircraft are expected to take around 30 days. By the end of 2026, all 15 two-class A380 aircraft in the EK fleet will be retrofitted.
. . . Sustainability
EK says materials retrieved from the 219 A380 and 777 aircraft undergoing cabin retrofit are evaluated for repurposing as part of Emirates’ Aircrafted upcycling program.
