In a move reminiscent of the golden age of grand ambitions in aviation, Emirates is once again setting the standard, announcing a sweeping expansion of its retrofitted fleet and the eagerly anticipated debut of its first long-range Airbus A350 in Australia. In true Emirates style – bold, confident, and unashamedly grand – the airline is not just polishing its silverware but remodelling the very banquet.
By the close of 2025, Emirates will boast more than 70 global destinations served by aircraft featuring its very latest cabin interiors – across its Boeing 777s, Airbus A380s, and soon, its brand-new Airbus A350s. In doing so, it will have transformed almost half its network into a showcase of luxury, comfort, and consistency, offering more than 2 million Premium Economy seats per year – a clear statement that in Emirates’ skies, compromise is not on the menu.
A Flying Renaissance: Eight More Cities to Receive the Emirates Touch
From July onwards, travellers to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Nice, Perth, Madrid, Kuala Lumpur, Frankfurt and Phuket will step aboard refreshed Boeing 777s and A380s, resplendent with upgraded interiors and gleaming with the promise of a superior experience.
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Bangkok will welcome the rejuvenated A380 from 1 July 2025.
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Hong Kong’s skyline will glitter with the arrival of its first refreshed four-class A380 on 1 October.
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Nice will debut Emirates’ Premium Economy on 15 October.
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Perth proudly becomes Emirates’ fourth Australian city to host the latest A380 from 26 October.
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Madrid steps up as Spain’s first destination to receive the new Boeing 777 interiors on 15 October.
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Kuala Lumpur’s lucky flyers will enjoy the upgraded 777 service from mid-October.
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Frankfurt will receive the refurbished 777 on 15 December, marking a German first.
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Phuket joins the privileged few on 1 December.
In addition, Dublin will secure a second refitted Boeing 777 service from 1 December, as one was not enough.
Australia at the Forefront: Adelaide to Debut Emirates’ New Long-Range A350
In a grand salute to Australia’s enduring importance, Emirates will launch its first-ever Airbus A350-900ULR flights to Adelaide on 1 December. With a range exceeding 14,000 kilometres and an endurance of 15+ hours, the new A350s are made for the epic journeys Australians know so well.
Fitted with 32 flat-bed Business Class seats in a roomy 1-2-1 layout, 28 plush Premium Economy seats, and 238 generously spaced Economy seats, the A350 will ensure Adelaide is not only better connected but connected in style.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, summed it up perfectly:
“Deploying our first A350 to Adelaide underscores Australia’s strategic importance to Emirates. We are committed to delivering the best long-haul experience, and Australia sits right at the heart of that ambition.”
One can almost hear the champagne corks popping in South Australia already.
The Grand Retrofit: A $5 Billion Labour of Love
When Emirates does something, it does it properly — and then some. Its retrofit programme, already the largest in aviation history, continues at a rapid pace. Over $5 billion is being poured into revitalising 219 aircraft – 110 A380s and 109 Boeing 777s – all in the name of making flying feel like flying once did: special.
Since the programme’s launch in November 2022, Emirates’ engineering artisans have retrofitted 51 aircraft, servicing 38 cities already. Every three weeks, like clockwork, another gleaming bird rolls off the line, renewed and ready to take on the world.
Emirates B777- Premium Economy wide
The scale is simply staggering:
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8,512 next-gen Premium Economy seats installed
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2,034 refreshed First-Class suites reimagined
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12,720 Business Class seats newly sculpted
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68,364 Economy seats thoughtfully reupholstered
And it’s not just the seats.
Over 132,000 square metres of carpet, 130,000 square metres of buttery leather, and 14,000 square metres of fresh laminates are being meticulously applied, bringing a whiff of that old-world craftsmanship back to modern aviation.
Leading the Premium Economy Charge
Emirates B777- Premium Economy side
Premium Economy isn’t just another cabin for Emirates – it’s becoming a crown jewel. With over 2 million Premium Economy seats available annually by 2025 – and that figure set to double by 2026 – Emirates is strategically positioning itself as the undisputed global leader in this increasingly desirable segment.
It’s not just about quantity either. Emirates’ long-haul Premium Economy flights are achieving enviable seat loads of over 80%, proving that passengers will gladly pay a little more for significantly more comfort.
Today, the airline’s Premium Economy footprint spans a diverse array of destinations, with new cities being added almost monthly. And with 40% of Emirates’ fleet poised to feature the new interiors by the end of 2025, a world-class, seamless Emirates experience is becoming the new standard, not the exception.
A Heritage of Excellence, A Future of Promise
In the aviation world, some airlines follow trends. Emirates, as ever, leads them.
Through its extraordinary investment, unwavering commitment to detail, and unrelenting ambition, Emirates is reasserting its place at the summit of global aviation — a fitting tribute to the grand old days of flying, yet crafted with all the modern refinement discerning travellers expect today.
It’s a proud moment not only for Emirates but for passengers everywhere who believe that flying should still feel special, not just a means to an end, but an experience to savour.
As Emirates’ freshly refurbished A380s, Boeing 777s, and Airbus A350s take to the skies, the future of air travel looks — dare one say — rather splendid indeed.
By Michelle Warner
