[ad_1]
Emirates has launched a program to upgrade the entire interior cabin of 120 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, two of the largest commercial aircraft types in service today.
The ambitious project, which represents a multi-billion dollar investment to ensure Emirates’ customers “fly better” for years to come, officially launched in November and is entirely managed by Emirates’ engineering team.
The goal is to perform a complete overhaul of four Emirates aircraft from start to finish on a monthly basis over a period of more than 2 years. Once the 67 designated A380s are updated and back in service, the 53 777 will be given a facelift. Upon completion of the project in April 2025, nearly 4,000 new premium economy seats will be installed, 728 first class suites will be refurbished, and more than 5,000 business class seats will be upgraded to new styles and designs.
Additionally, carpets and stairs will be upgraded, and cabin interior panels will be refreshed with new hues and design patterns, including the iconic ghaf tree native to the UAE.
No other airline has undergone such a massive revamp in-house, and there is no blueprint for such work. As such, the Emirates engineering team has been conducting extensive planning and testing to establish and streamline processes and to identify and resolve any possible issues.
Trials on the A380 began in July, with experienced engineers tearing apart each cabin one by one and documenting every step. From removing seats and paneling to bolts and screws, every move is tested, timed and planned. Potential obstacles to installing Emirates’ new Premium Economy cabin or retrofitting the remaining three cabins in just 16 days have been flagged and documented for a team of experts to review and resolve.
As part of the plan, Emirates Engineering will set up new purpose-built workshops to repaint, re-trim and rearrange business and economy seats with new seat covers and cushions. First class suites will be carefully dismantled and sent to professional companies to replace leather, armrests and other materials.
From the trials, engineers discovered several unexpected solutions, such as: Existing catering trucks could be easily repurposed to transport parts used for refurbishment from planes to workshops for refurbishment because the vehicles’ Doors are the right width and provide enough space.
Ahead of the official start of the renovation program in November, an interdisciplinary team has been assembled to regularly review the planning process, resolve any issues, and track updates on all aspects of the project, such as procurement, staffing and training.
Emirates’ new Premium Economy class, offering plush seats, more legroom and service comparable to many airlines’ business services, is now available to Emirates customers flying on popular A380 routes to London, Paris, Sydney use. From the end of the year, more customers will be able to experience the airline’s new premium economy class as the retrofit program accelerates. – arab trade news agency
[ad_2]
Source link