Why Emirates' Airbus A380 Has Such An Insane Upper Deck Layout

You’re taking a tour of the Emirates Airbus A380. The lower deck looks like a standard airliner, albeit larger and with unique wood trim on the windows. The premium economy cabin (only present on some A380s) features larger seats with cream seat covers and a beautiful stitching pattern. But then, you get to the very front of the passenger cabin, where you’ll notice the grand staircase. This is the first indication that this aircraft is something special, and once you ascend the stairs to reach the upper deck, you’ll find one of the most opulent aircraft cabins in the world.

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the A380. The Dubai-based carrier operates 116 A380s, nearly 10 times the fleet size of the next-largest A380 operator. Emirates is the world’s largest long-haul airline and the world’s most profitable airline. Key to its success is the halo effect generated by its opulently configured Airbus A380s, and Emirates’ success has also influenced Dubai’s economic success as a city. Today, we’re going to explore the luxurious upper deck of Emirates’ A380 and why the aircraft is configured this way.

Looking At The Emirates A380

Emirates operates 116 A380s, which make up nearly half of its fleet (the other half is made up of Boeing 777s and a small number of A350-900s). The A380 is one of the most recognizable aircraft ever made, and its close association with Emirates has cemented the Emirates A380 in particular as a modern icon of aviation. The airline ordered 123 out of the 251 sold (seven aircraft were retired), meaning that more than half of all Airbus A380s were sold to Emirates.

As the airline operates so many A380s, it has eight different configurations. One of these layouts features 615 seats in a two-class layout for leisure destinations, but the rest feature three or four cabin classes (depending on whether premium economy is present). These configurations vary slightly in the aircraft’s lower deck galley and lavatory, resulting in differences in the size of the economy cabin. However, all of these layouts (aside from the 615-seat configuration) have 14 first class seats and 76 business class seats.

The first class and business class seats are located on the upper deck, while economy and premium economy are located on the lower deck. This is a standard configuration for an Airbus A380, as every operator but one (British Airways) installs all business class seats on the upper deck, and many carriers also install first class on the upper deck. However, while the layout is fairly standard, the interior design is anything but, and the airline also installs some unique amenities.

Looking At The Emirates A380 Upper Deck

At the front of the A380’s upper deck is the first class cabin. These seats are visually impressive, with glamorous wood designs and stunning wood accents. In addition, the seats feature a minibar, motorized privacy doors, a large screen, and a vanity mirror. It’s one of the most famous first class seats in the world, although it’s not actually particularly spacious. Emirates fits 14 first class seats in the same space where other airlines might fit six or eight seats, making for an efficient, but ultimately dense layout.

Behind the first class cabin lies the business class cabin. Once again, the seats themselves aren’t the impressive part, as it’s a fairly standard staggered layout based on the Safran SkyLounge. Rather, it’s the wood accents in the seat, the sidewalls surrounding the windows, and on top of the side storage bins. The screens are large, and the seats feature a small shelf stocked with soft drinks. The fact that the upper deck exclusively features premium seats, along with the striking designs and visuals, makes it feel more like a large private jet.

The most impressive part of the upper deck is the amenities. Ahead of the first class cabins are two shower suites. The only other airline to offer onboard showers is Etihad Airways, but Emirates’ showers are far larger and more impressive. In the back of the plane lies the famous onboard bar, where a bartender serves freshly made drinks to both first class and business class passengers. In addition to the bar itself, there’s also seating on both sides for passengers to relax and mingle.

Why Is The Upper Deck Configured This Way

The standard layout for business and first class today is a four-abreast, 1-2-1 configuration, as this allows direct aisle access for all passengers. The upper deck of the A380 is narrower than the lower deck, but a four-abreast layout would need to remain if premium cabins were installed on the lower deck. Moving all premium seats upstairs allows airlines to install more economy seats overall, as the lower deck can accommodate ten seats per row, while the upper deck can only be configured eight-abreast.

The shower suites occupy an area of the aircraft’s large forward “crown”, which cannot be used for seating. Most airlines choose to install larger lavatories or a lounge, but installing a shower suite is a bold decision that differentiates Emirates from the competition. Despite most Emirates passengers never having the opportunity to use them, their presence elevates the brand, especially given how large Emirates’ A380 fleet is.

The onboard bar has the same effect. Earlier A380s were delivered with overhead bins in this area in case the bar was a failure; that way, the area could quickly be reconfigured with more business class seats. However, the novel idea soon proved itself, and given that it’s also accessible to business class passengers, many more customers can experience it. These passengers then tell others about it and post about it, while the airline also prominently features it in advertisements. This further elevates Emirates’ brand as a premium or luxury airline that people aspire to fly on.

How Emirates’ Brand Image Is Important To The Company’s Success

On a majority of its 777 fleet, Emirates’ business class seats are configured seven-abreast, an outdated layout that’s far from competitive. Yet worldwide, Emirates is one of the most beloved airline brands. Emirates has always been known for its innovative onboard experience, but the airline really took off with the introduction of its A380 fleet. The visual design, while not to everyone’s taste, screams opulent luxury, and the onboard amenities are matched by only a select few.

Brand image is integral to business success as it directly influences purchasing decisions. The seven-abreast layout on Emirates’ 777s is uncompetitive, and the Safran SkyLounge seats on the Airbus A380 are no longer cutting edge. Even the newer business class seats being installed on the Airbus A350 and retrofitted Boeing 777s lack privacy doors, which is becoming an expectation in business class today. However, Emirates can do this because its brand image is so elevated that people perceive it as an exceptional airline, even though its hard product is flawed in certain areas.

Emirates is also owned by the government of Dubai, which has a vested interest in its success. Dubai, more than any other city in the Middle East, has successfully diversified its economy to become the region’s largest business and tourism hub. As Emirates is the primary airline serving the city, an excellent onboard experience reflects positively on Dubai, and the carrier’s brand image influences the city’s image. Marketing is a powerful tool, and Emirates has successfully leveraged the best attributes of its onboard product to create a brand synonymous with glamour and opulent luxury, one that extends to Dubai.

What Will Happen When The A380s Go

It’s the Airbus A380, which offers the special amenities Emirates is famous for, but the aircraft is no longer in production. Emirates intends to keep the type flying until the 2040s, but many aircraft will need to be retired before then. Emirates can install a bar and shower suites because of the aircraft’s unique design. Other airliners don’t have a large area of what would otherwise be wasted space to use for a shower suite, and the aircraft is so huge that Emirates can justify installing a bar in place of eight business class seats, since the aircraft already has 76 business class seats.

Emirates’ replacement for the A380 is the 777-9, but there are issues with using the aircraft as an A380 replacement. Its increased size compared to the 777-300ER could allow Emirates to install an onboard lounge, but it would be surprising if the airline could continue to offer shower suites. Emirates and Boeing have agreed to conduct studies on the feasibility of an even larger “777-10”, but even this aircraft would be fundamentally smaller, and space would still be at a premium compared to the A380.

Emirates currently flies nine 777-300ERs with its “Game Changer” first class suites, which offer floor-to-ceiling walls, a three-abreast layout, and virtual windows. The 777-9s will receive an upgraded version of this product, along with a new business class seat that will feature privacy doors. Emirates is looking to move away from the A380 and stand on its own when it comes to its image. But given how closely the two are linked, one begs the question: will the final departure of an Emirates A380 permanently change Emirates as a brand?