Khaberni - Emirates Airlines announced the launch of the next phase of its program to update its fleet of aircraft, which will include 60 "Airbus A380" aircraft and 51 "Boeing 777" aircraft. Starting from August 2026, the carrier will introduce a range of products on board, alongside a next-generation advanced and immersive inflight entertainment system and ultra-fast internet connectivity using "Starlink" technology.
Emirates Engineering Center collaborated with its partners, "Airbus," "Safran," "Recaro," "Panasonic," "Starlink," and "UUDS," to introduce the latest seat designs and a new onboard lounge on 60 of its "Airbus A380" planes, concurrently with adopting the advanced inflight entertainment system "Astrova by Panasonic," to provide a comprehensive and distinguished experience for passengers on board 111 aircraft scheduled for updates in the upcoming phase of the program.
Emirates Airlines played a pivotal role in driving innovation in products in collaboration with its global partners, through ongoing work with aircraft manufacturers and suppliers to elevate comfort levels, privacy, and the overall travel experience onboard the aircraft.
Innovation and Design
Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines, said that Emirates Airlines' fleet renewal program embodies its ambitious vision to continually raise the standards of service and comfort across all its operations, adding that through its strategic partnerships with leading global manufacturers, the carrier is redefining the concept of travel experience broadly, to provide its customers with a consistent experience combining innovation, sophisticated design, and advanced technologies.
He added that this program represents an extension of Emirates Airlines' continual investment in developing the future of air travel experience, ensuring its fleet's readiness to meet the aspirations of travelers around the world.
Inflight Entertainment
Emirates Airlines selected the "Astrova by Panasonic Avionics" system to update the onboard entertainment products on "Airbus A380" and "Boeing 777" aircraft with an advanced entertainment system, while enhancing the travel experience by launching the "Starlink" satellite communication service across the fleet, to be installed concurrently with the fleet update program on the mentioned aircraft types.
The update program reflects Emirates Airlines' ongoing commitment to investing in its products and services.
The carrier had first announced the program in 2021 to update 120 aircraft, then expanded it in May 2024 to include 191 aircraft, before later increasing the number to 219 aircraft in the same year; where they completed updates on 76 aircraft.
The update for each Airbus A380 takes about 22 days, and each Boeing 777 takes about 18 days, while the program maintains a steady pace of updating two aircraft per month.
