Everyone loves to travel, and for many, flying is an experience in itself. But imagine bringing the luxury of an aircraft cabin into your home and living in it every day! For Kochi-born aviation enthusiast Arun Rajagopal, this dream has become a reality. Living in Dubai, he has transformed part of his apartment into a luxurious living space using the restored interior of Etihad Airways’ exclusive Airbus A380 Residence suite, bringing a little piece of his favourite flying experience home.

An Indian aviation enthusiast has found an unusual way to bring his favourite flying experience closer to home. Arun Rajagopal, who grew up in Kochi, Kerala, has transformed part of his Dubai apartment into a functional living space using the restored interior of Etihad Airways’ luxurious Airbus A380 Residence suite.

What began as an attempt to acquire a pair of premium leather sofa seats turned into a much bigger project. Rajagopal eventually acquired the entire living room section of the exclusive suite, which was in a badly damaged condition, and had it restored and adapted for use in his home.

According to CNN Travel, the project took nearly a year to complete and was finished in June 2026. The result is a unique space that combines his love for flying with the comforts of home.

From childhood fascination to a lifelong passion

Rajagopal’s interest in transport began during his childhood in Kochi. His fascination with different modes of transport eventually grew into a deep interest in aviation, particularly the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft by passenger capacity.

His passion has taken him around the world. According to his Instagram biography, he has visited 100 countries, flown on the A380 222 times and boarded 60 inaugural flights. He has also travelled with Emirates to 106 cities.

Rajagopal joined Emirates in 2012 and spent more than eight years working in social media before moving to a communications role at Oracle. Even as his professional career evolved, aviation remained an important part of his life.

His Dubai apartment reflects this enthusiasm. The collection includes first-class seats from Emirates’ first A380, aircraft components, cabin accessories and certificates commemorating inaugural flights. An A380 wheel, repurposed as a coffee table, is another unusual addition.

Bringing an aircraft suite into an apartment

The latest addition to his collection is part of Etihad Airways’ exclusive Residence, a three-room private suite available aboard the airline’s Airbus A380 aircraft. The onboard accommodation features a living room, a separate bedroom and an en-suite bathroom with a shower.

Rajagopal initially wanted to purchase only the suite’s leather sofa seats. However, Fawaz Mohammed Ali, founder of Wings Craft, a company specialising in repurposing aircraft interiors, persuaded him to acquire the entire living room section instead.

The structure was badly damaged and needed extensive restoration. Engineers repaired or replaced missing components and adapted its systems for residential use. Equipment designed for an aircraft cabin had to be made suitable for everyday use in an apartment.

A little bit of first-class luxury at home

The restored living room includes beige leather seating, a custom 32-inch television, powered window shades, integrated lighting, USB charging ports and sliding privacy doors.

The installation was not without its challenges. The large components could not fit inside the building’s service lift, so six workers had to carry them up the stairs to Rajagopal’s apartment on the seventh floor.

The effort has resulted in a space that is more than a display of aviation memorabilia. Rajagopal uses it to watch television, dine, work, relax and entertain guests.

He has not disclosed how much the acquisition and restoration cost. However, he told CNN Travel that the investment could have been enough to buy a car.

More than a collection of aircraft memorabilia

For Rajagopal, the project is about more than owning a rare piece of airline luxury. It reflects years of travel, personal memories and a fascination with the aircraft and experiences that have shaped his life.

By bringing part of Etihad’s A380 Residence into his Dubai home, he has found a way to preserve a distinctive piece of aviation history while making it part of his everyday life.

For most aviation enthusiasts, the excitement of flying ends when the aircraft reaches its destination. For Rajagopal, a little piece of that experience now awaits him at home.