Safran plans to outsource Emirates seat production from France, US to Dubai as part of UAE manufacturing cluster push

Outsourcing 1000+ seats a year to a new line in Dubai’s aviation manufacturing cluster is a big move — and a risky one — for Safran

By John Walton 13 min read
Image: a cream-beige-and-brown staggered seat without doors, with the usual Emirates glossy burled wood aesthetic.

Amid all the heat of the Dubai Airshow, Safran’s made two momentous announcements. The first: an 111-aircraft order for business and economy seats on Emirates’ refit program for A380s and 777s. The second: that it will build (some of) them as part of a new aviation site in Dubai. 

With initial planned Dubai production of 1000 business class seats per year, the contract comprises multiple years’ worth of production of seats currently produced in Safran facilities in central France and Texas. Safran’s executive vice president for sales Vincenzo Guerriero confirms to The Up Front that the seatmaker and its airline customer have not yet selected whether seats for the A380 or 777 will be first to be produced in Dubai.

The Up Front AnalysisSafran SeatsLoungesEmiratesA380777DubaiSupply chainGeopolitics
John Walton

Editor in chief of The Up Front, with two decades of experience reporting across the global aviation industry, specialising in business and first class, seats, cabins and the passenger experience.