Emirates scores world first with 3D cabin technology

Visualisation engine displays an immersive 3D 360-degree view of the interior of the Emirates A380 and Boeing 777

An Emirates Airbus A380 airliner prepares to land at Nice international airport, France. The airline has launched a VR offering for customers. Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Emirates has become the first airline to introduce web virtual reality technology on its digital platform.

The 3D seat model is a visualisation engine that displays an immersive 3D 360-degree view of the interior of the Emirates A380 and the Emirates Boeing 777, giving customers a chance to explore the aircraft interior and seating.

This 3D SeatMapVR feature allows users to navigate through the economy, business and first class cabins, as well as the on-board lounge and shower spa on the Emirates A380 using navigational hotspots.

“In our usability tests with customers, we found that they particularly appreciated the 3D seat and cabin models when selecting their seats,” said Alex Knigge, Emirates’ senior vice president for corporate communications, digital marketing and brand.

The high-quality 3D-generated graphics are now available for the three-class Emirates A380 but will soon include renderings of Emirates’ entire fleet including all configurations of the A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, the carrier said.

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The 3D 360-degree views of the cabins also feature a virtual reality element for a more immersive experience. Users can enjoy hands-free cabin navigation and seat selection by using any VR headset such as Google Cardboard. This technology is compatible with all devices without the need for external applications or plug-ins. The 3D seat models were created in partnership with Spanish company Renacen, which specialises in cutting-edge software development.

Customers accessing emirates.com via their mobile devices or the Emirates app for iOS and Android will also be able to explore their seats before checking in online with the 3D seat map. The tool allows customers to navigate from one seat to another, and even allows would-be customers to book their preferred seats from within the 3D environment.