Refurbishing your aircraft is an exciting opportunity to refresh its look, comfort, and functionality. When planning next year’s refurb cycle, the key is understanding how to manage downtime effectively. Clear expectations around lead times and scheduling help you avoid delays and keep your aircraft available when you need it most.
The following breakdown outlines typical refurbishment timelines and offers practical guidance to help you prepare and make the most of your downtime.

Planning Before Work Begins
The timeline officially begins once your proposal is signed with the refurbishment facility and all design specifications are finalized. However, effective downtime planning starts earlier. Allow 12 to 16 weeks before signing for tasks such as reviewing proposals, requesting competitive quotes, and finalizing your design choices.
This early planning window helps you secure availability on the facility’s schedule and confirms that your project aligns with your operational needs for the upcoming year. Timelines may be shorter when work follows an ARCS inspection or a small workscope, but additional time is needed for highly customized cabin concepts.

Typical Refurbishment Timelines by Project Type
Soft Goods (Seating, Carpets, Sidewalls)

• 6 to 8 weeks of downtime at the refurbishment facility
• 3 to 4 week lead time for materials
• 10 to 12 week lead time for custom designs
• Soft goods projects provide flexibility and tend to work well for shorter downtime windows.

Full Refurbishment (Reveneering, Plating, Countertops, Soft Goods)

• 10 to 12 weeks of downtime
• 3 to 4 week material lead time
• 10 to 12 week lead time for custom materials
• This scope requires strong coordination between your designer, the facility, and suppliers to keep the schedule on track.

Reconfiguration or Major CMS Upgrades

• 10 to 12 weeks of downtime
  Approximately 16 weeks of lead time, sometimes longer depending on complexity
• These projects involve engineering and integration work that must be coordinated well in advance. Aligning them with your broader maintenance schedule is the best way to reduce downtime.

Extremely Bespoke Interiors

• About 16 weeks of lead time
• 6 to 8 months of downtime for custom furniture or major interior changes
• In some cases, adding more lead time at the beginning can help shorten the downtime, although some engineering tasks require early access to the aircraft. These projects require the most proactive planning in order to avoid unexpected delays.

Bonus Tip: Make the Most of Downtime
Refurbishments do not need to create extra downtime. Scheduling projects during major maintenance inspections helps reduce overall downtime since the interior will already be removed.
If you are planning a new paint scheme, schedule painting after major inspections to avoid disruption to fresh paint.

Ready to Transform Your Aircraft?
With the right preparation, a refurbishment can deliver exceptional results with minimal disruption. Having a designer who works closely with your aircraft management team ensures you get the most out of every maintenance visit. Contact us to discuss your next project and learn how to plan next year’s refurbishment cycle with confidence.