What began as a modest effort to introduce premium economy seats on Emirates aircraft evolved into the world’s largest fully in-house makeover programme for its entire fleet of over 260 aircraft costing $5 billion as globally airlines, faced with delays in supply of aircraft post COVID -19, poured money into refreshing ageing jets to ensure passenger loyalty and satisfaction.
The Hindu recently visited Emirates’ state-of-the-art engineering facility in Dubai to get an exclusive, up-close look at the world’s biggest and most ambitious fleet refurbishment project that includes stripping off old seats, replacing them with either new seats or new upholstery, new carpets, and repanelling side walls refreshed with new colour tones. Going forward, the aircraft will also get a new in-flight entertainment system and Starlink WiFi announced at last week’s Dubai Airshow.
Aboard an Emirates Boeing 777 nearing its full makeover, everything is treated with utmost care - seats are carefully packed in a bubble wrap, wall panels are cushioned with thermocol sheets, and carpets are sealed in protective polythene and yet more rolls of carpeting are stacked neatly to protect them from dust and implements being used by technicians busy fixing cables under cabin panels and restoring lavatories.
