The Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre, the world’s largest aircraft painting facility owned by an airline, has completely stripped and repainted 33 aircraft last year, or 13% of its fleet.

During the year, Emirates gave a fresh coat of paint to three Airbus A380s and 22 Boeing 777s, in addition to eight aircraft that were retired as a part of the airline’s strategy to operate a young, modern, and efficient aircraft fleet.

Emirates’ state-of-the-art facility in Dubai also installed decals on 72 aircraft and executed over 105,000 painting jobs including cabin touch-ups across the world’s largest fleet of wide-body aircraft in 2015. Some of the eye-catching customized decals installed on the Emirates fleet during the course of the year include the Real Madrid A380, the Paris Saint-Germain A380, the Arsenal 777, the A.C. Milan A380,  the Arsenal A380 and the United for Wildlife A380s.

Being one of the most visible elements of brand Emirates, the aircraft is an essential aspect of product and customer experience. Emirates makes sure that all its aircraft are in top operating condition from a technical standpoint and takes great pride in ensuring every aspect of its aircraft appearance meets the highest standards.

Aircraft appearance can also impact operating and technical performance. A good paint job for instance, can help reduce fuel burn, and a smooth turnaround at the Aircraft Appearance Centre helps return the aircraft to scheduled service more quickly. That is why Emirates has invested in a world-class facility, technologies, and its people, to ensure that the airline has its own in-house capability.

Emirates has also pioneered an innovation in the A380 repainting process by using a new adhesion promoter which ensures enhanced paint durability and longevity. Airbus is recommending this indigenously developed feature to other A380 operators who will be repainting their aircraft. In addition to this, the team succeeded in shaving off a few hundred kilograms from the weight of a number of the A380s, contributing to better operational efficiency, enhanced technical performance and cost savings.

Emirates is working closely with aircraft manufacturers and industry partners around the world to introduce better efficiencies in aircraft paint application, with an eye on efficiency and eco-friendliness. Twice the size of a football pitch and operational round-the-clock, the Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre uses the latest technologies and systems, including fully controlled environments that regulate temperature, humidity and airflow – all critical factors for the perfect glossy coat.

Re-painting the world’s largest commercial passenger jet

Watch a time-lapse video of how Emirates repainted one of its A380s, the world’s largest commercial aircraft, at the Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre in Dubai.

Emirates press release