Editor’s note: The original article was seemingly swallowed by the publishing platform. We’ve re-posted it with a little update inside.
With supply chains and delivery times having been less than optimal recently, Emirates and Safran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring a manufacturing and seat assembly unit to Dubai.
The joint industrial cooperation, the first of its kind, will initially concentrate on Business and Economy Class seats for cabin retrofit projects (such as the seatsets for 111 extra aircraft announced today), with plans to expand to line-fit in the future.
This facility will bring additional capacity, which will be available to serve Emirates and other customers of Safran Seats. This move aims to bring Safran Seats’ expertise closer to Emirates’ operations as well as to other airlines in the region and beyond.
With demands for seating ever increasing, this will add extra capacity, as well as efficiencies when using the latest manufacturing techniques.
Safran has been a key partner in Emirates’ fleet refurbishment efforts, supplying premium seating for the airline’s retrofit programme and its new A350 fleet. The facility is the first step in building a broader aerospace manufacturing cluster in Dubai.
Safran aims to have the facility completed by Q4 2027, bringing approximately 20,000- 25,000 Square Meters of industrial footprint.
The ramp-up will be in a phased approach, with the initial assembly of up to 1000 business-class seats per year.
In Quotes
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said:
“This agreement with Safran marks a pivotal and strategic cooperation that establishes Dubai as an aerospace manufacturing hub. We’re bringing world-class seat production capabilities and supply chain to our doorstep, creating highly skilled jobs, and developing capabilities to support Emirates and produce seats for export to other carriers. The partnership will directly support our retrofit programme and the evolution of our onboard cabin interior requirements.
Our goal is to further develop aerospace manufacturing to attract component suppliers, technology companies, and talented, skilled professionals from around the world. This initiative aligns perfectly with the D33 economic agenda, strengthening Dubai’s position in a strategic industry while further diversifying our economy. The UAE has built one of the world’s most successful aviation industries and now it’s time to build the manufacturing capabilities to match that success.”
Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, said:
” We deeply value our enduring partnership with Emirates and sincerely appreciate their confidence in partnering with us on this ambitious project. This initiative not only reinforces our shared commitment to operational excellence but also aligns with our industrial strategy as we adapt and prepare our business to support the current and future worldwide market ramp-up. We keep shaping the future of the aviation industry with innovation and resilience for the next generation of aircraft seating.”
Bringing industrial capacity closer
We’ve all seen aviation refit and supply projects heavily delayed over the past few years, with supply chain shortages, as well as factory capacity issues. That’s led to aircraft sitting on the ground without certified interiors, aircraft or part-filled aircraft, or aircraft not leaving the factory due to seats not arriving.
Even with the best will in the world, there is only so much that can pass through a manufacturing facility in any given time.
With Emirates and Safran Seats planning to set up a facility in Dubai, it should give Emirates a “first in line” benefit for orders for its upcoming refits – especially since they’ve pushed through a contract for another 111 shipsets of Business and Economy Class seats.
For others in the region who lean on Safran Seats to supply their aircraft seating, it could provide easier access to manufacturing, parts and service, with possible faster turnaround times to ensure seats do the one thing they’re meant to do – earn money with passengers in them.
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