Over the years, Emirates has gained a reputation for offering one of the most luxurious passenger experiences in the world. The airline's Airbus A380 fleet has been central to this approach, featuring distinctive elements such as an onboard lounge at the rear of the upper deck.
When Emirates first introduced this lounge, it included overhead bins as a backup measure. In 2004, Pierrejean Design Studio was selected to explore concepts for the lounge. Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, explained: “I designed the bar at the back of the aircraft on the upper deck, on the understanding that if it didn't work, we could remove it in 96 hours and put eight more business class seats in within the first few flights.”
The lounge eventually became a popular feature on the A380, leading to its continued presence without overhead bins. Over time, Emirates has made several updates to improve its design and functionality. In 2017, a major update introduced a lighter aesthetic with ivory tones and wood-grain finishes.