An Indian aviation enthusiast has brought a slice of Etihad Airways’ luxury flying experience into his Dubai apartment, restoring an Airbus A380 Residence living-room section as a space to relax, dine and work.
Arun Rajagopal’s unusual home project goes beyond collecting model aircraft or airline memorabilia. His apartment now includes restored aircraft seating, powered window shades, sliding privacy doors and a television—turning part of a former cabin into an everyday living space.
The restoration took nearly a year and was completed in June 2026. It reflects a fascination with aviation that has taken Rajagopal around the world and inspired him to bring pieces of the flying experience home.
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Meet the Indian Aviation Enthusiast Behind the Project
Rajagopal is a Dubai-based Indian aviation enthusiast with a particular passion for the Airbus A380.
Hindustan Times reported on October 26, citing his Instagram biography, that he had visited 100 countries, taken 222 A380 flights and boarded 60 inaugural flights.
An earlier CNN profile, published on October 15, put his A380 flight count at 220. The two figures appeared at different times; they should not be presented as a single independently verified travel record.
His interest also extends to collecting aircraft interiors. Alongside the Residence installation, his collection includes first-class seats from Emirates’ first A380, aircraft components and memorabilia from inaugural flights.
For Rajagopal, the aircraft cabin is not simply a means of reaching a destination. It is something worth preserving long after a journey ends.
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From Buying a Sofa to Restoring an Aircraft Living Room
The project began with a smaller ambition: acquiring the leather sofa seats from an Etihad Residence.
The components were held by Wings Craft, a UAE-based business that recovers and repurposes aircraft parts. Its founder, Fawaz Mohammed Ali, encouraged Rajagopal to consider the wider living-room section rather than the seats alone.
That decision turned a furniture purchase into a much more demanding restoration.
The salvaged interior was badly damaged. Bringing it back into use required repairs, replacement components and technical work to make aircraft fittings function inside an apartment.
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What Is Etihad’s A380 Residence?
The Residence is Etihad Airways’ private three-room accommodation aboard the Airbus A380. Its onboard layout includes a living room, a separate bedroom and an en-suite shower room.
Rajagopal restored the living-room section—not the entire three-room suite.
That distinction matters: the project brings part of the Residence’s cabin experience into his home, rather than recreating every feature of the airline’s accommodation.
Making Aircraft Technology Work at Home
Aircraft interiors are designed to work within an aircraft’s electrical and control systems. Moving them into a residential setting requires more than positioning the seats and connecting a power cable.
Engineers had to adapt the salvaged fittings so they could operate independently of the original aircraft.
The completed installation includes:
- Restored living-room seating.
- A custom 32-inch television.
- Powered window shades.
- Working lighting.
- USB charging ports.
- Sliding privacy doors.
These changes preserve the atmosphere of an aircraft cabin while making the space practical for daily use.
More Than a Display Piece
Rajagopal does not reserve the restored living room for photographs or occasional demonstrations.
He uses it to watch television, eat, work, take a nap and spend time with visitors. The installation functions as part of his home rather than a museum exhibit.
Smaller details add personal connections to his travels. CNN reported that an orchid references Emirates first class, while Bernardaud porcelain and Studio William cutlery recall Etihad’s onboard service.
Together, the salvaged fittings and carefully selected accessories turn the space into a personal record of his aviation experiences.
What Did the Restoration Cost?
The reports reviewed do not disclose a verified total for purchasing, restoring and installing the living-room section.
They also do not describe the apartment as a public attraction or announce a commercial partnership between Rajagopal and Etihad Airways.
The project is presented as a private undertaking driven by his enthusiasm for aviation.
Its appeal lies in that transformation: a damaged aircraft interior, once designed for journeys above the clouds, now has a second life inside a Dubai home.
Sources: CNN Travel, The Flight Club.
