Emirates launches a massive $2 billion renovation program
Emirates, one of the world's leading airlines, is renovating its Airbus SE A380 aircraft and has allocated $2 billion for this revision. The old seats and seatbelts removed from the planes are being transformed into bags and sneakers.
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Unlike all other airlines, Emirates has made the Airbus SE A380 jumbo jet the cornerstone of its fleet. While the Dubai-based airline still operates more than 100 of the double-decker giant aircraft, its competitors have either abandoned this giant plane entirely or are flying only a small number. Airbus itself stopped production of this aircraft model in 2019 after slow sales that lasted a little over a decade.
$2 BILLION OVERHAUL
According to a Bloomberg report, Emirates, which has no new aircraft, is launching a massive $2 billion renovation program to extend the life of its giant planes until the early 2040s. Last week, in a large hangar near Dubai's main airport, two A380s were gutted and equipped with everything from new beds to new stairwells.
Emirates has opted for lighter tones, new carpets, and ambient lighting, as well as depictions of local nature motifs, leaving behind the gold trim and wood paneling that dominated the first iteration. The popular business class bar, where passengers can mingle and enjoy a glass of whiskey during the flight, will remain. The cabin renovation alone accounts for half of the investment, which is called Project Phoenix.