Emirates Airlines Makes $2 Billion Investment in Itself

Image: A tray of sweets are just one small part of an overall upgrade for Emirates Airlines plane. (Emirates Airlines)
Image: A tray of sweets are just one small part of an overall upgrade for Emirates Airlines plane. (Emirates Airlines)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 12:35 AM ET, Thu August 11, 2022

Emirates Airlines today said it was making a $2 billion investment to upgrade and retrofit 120 of its airplanes with the latest passenger enhancements inside the cabin.

Already acclaimed for its service, Emirates said the ambitious project would begin this year.

"While others respond to industry pressures with cost cuts, Emirates is flying against the grain and investing to deliver ever better experiences to our customers," Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airlines, said in a statement. "Through the pandemic we've continued to launch new services and initiatives to ensure our customers travel with the assurance and ease, including digital initiatives to improve customer experiences on the ground. Now we're rolling out a series of intensive programs to take Emirates' signature inflight experiences to the next level."

The improvements will include:

New Inspirations, New Menus: An award-winning team of chefs, a world-class catering team and a wide variety of suppliers have been assembled to design and deliver the best fine dining experience in the sky

Purposefully Vegan Choices: Emirates' new vegan menu is carefully curated to cater to the growing numbers of customers pursuing this thoughtful lifestyle. Vegans, or anyone interested in a delicious and healthy plant-based meal, will enjoy handcrafted gourmet dishes such as pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, flavorsome jackfruit biryani and sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange.

The Champagne and Caviar Experience: Emirates' First Class experience has been upped a notch in 2022. Customers can now savor unlimited portions of Persian caviar as part of the 'dine on demand' service, with an exquisite pairing of the world-renowned Dom Perignon vintage champagne. Emirates is the only airline with an exclusive agreement to offer the luxury brand on-board.

Cinema in the Sky: First Class customers can create a memorable movie moment on-board by ordering cinema snacks as they enjoy the 5,000 channels on Emirates' ice inflight entertainment system.

Upgraded Cabin Interiors in all Classes: The most significant investment is an extensive and record-breaking refurbishment of the aircraft fleet interiors, where cabins will be retrofitted with new or reupholstered seats, new paneling, flooring, and other cabin features.

Additionally, Emirates confirms there will be more announcements about new products and services soon.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection, What Advisors Need to KnowThursday, August 6, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Stay ahead with the latest updates from Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection, featuring upscale...
Upcoming Webinar
Experiential and Adventure WebinarTuesday, August 11, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse in the virtual studios on August 11 for the...
Upcoming Webinar
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...
Upcoming Webinar
Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection, What Advisors Need to KnowThursday, August 6, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Stay ahead with the latest updates from Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection, featuring upscale...
Upcoming Webinar
Experiential and Adventure WebinarTuesday, August 11, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, and TravelPulse in the virtual studios on August 11 for the...
Upcoming Webinar
New Orleans: Timeless Traditions & Nonstop CultureThursday, August 13, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Learn about New Orleans from the New Orleans experts. During the presentation, you'll hear about...