For most passengers, flying ends when the aircraft lands. For Arun Rajagopal, an Indian aviation enthusiast living in Dubai, the experience continues at home.
Rajagopal has transformed his one-bedroom apartment into a private aviation museum, complete with the restored living room of Etihad Airways’ exclusive Airbus A380 Residence. Completed in June 2026, the project brings part of one of commercial aviation’s most luxurious flying experiences into an ordinary residential building.
The installation features beige leather seating, curved ceilings, ambient lighting, powered window shades, a television and sliding privacy doors. Although it resembles a premium aircraft cabin, it is now part of Rajagopal’s everyday living space.
His unusual collection attracted international attention after CNN Travel published a detailed account of the project on 15 October 2026.
From a childhood fascination to 220 A380 flights
Born in Kochi, Kerala, Rajagopal developed an early fascination with transport. Trains, buses and ships initially captured his imagination before aviation became his greatest passion.
Financial difficulties interrupted his travels for 13 years. During that period, he continued exploring the world through airline brochures, travel magazines and flight schedules.
He eventually returned to flying after beginning his career in advertising and digital communications.
In 2012, Rajagopal joined Emirates, spending more than eight years working in social media. The role brought him closer to the airline’s flagship Airbus A380, giving him opportunities to attend aircraft deliveries, inaugural flights and aviation events.
He later moved into a communications role at technology company Oracle.
By October 2026, Rajagopal had flown aboard the A380 around 220 times, covering approximately 715,000 miles across six continents, according to CNN Travel.
His travels included flights aboard 96 individual A380 aircraft and participation in 45 inaugural services. He had also spent roughly 60 days of his life aboard the double-decker aircraft.
In 2026, he reached another personal milestone by visiting his 100th country.
An aviation museum inside a Dubai apartment
Rajagopal’s fascination with the A380 extends well beyond flying.
His homes in Dubai and Kochi contain an extensive collection of aviation memorabilia, ranging from aircraft components and cabin accessories to commemorative certificates.
Among the most striking items in his Dubai apartment are two first-class seats from Emirates’ first A380, cabin lamps, seatbelts and an aircraft wheel converted into a coffee table.
His attention to detail extends even to airline glassware and tableware.
Determined to recreate the experience of premium travel, he once contacted the manufacturer of Emirates’ champagne flutes in search of matching glasses. Several purchases later, he discovered that the airline used specially designed versions.
The collection reflects an interest not simply in owning unusual objects but in preserving the details and memories associated with flying.
Yet one acquisition would prove far more ambitious than the rest.
Bringing Etihad’s Residence down to earth
Introduced in 2014, Etihad Airways’ Residence offered an exceptional level of luxury aboard its Airbus A380 aircraft.
The three-room suite included a private living area, separate bedroom and en-suite bathroom with a shower, setting it apart from conventional first-class accommodation.
Rajagopal had experienced the Residence seven times, including on two birthdays, and had developed a particular affection for its leather sofa.
When he discovered a dismantled Residence suite at Wings Craft, a UAE company specialising in repurposing aircraft interiors, he initially wanted to purchase only the sofa seats.
However, company founder Fawaz Mohammed Ali encouraged him to acquire the entire living room section.
What followed was an extensive restoration project lasting nearly a year.
The components were badly damaged and could not be installed immediately. Engineers had to restore missing or broken elements and adapt electrical and mechanical systems originally designed to operate aboard an aircraft.
The logistical challenges continued after the restoration.
The large cabin sections could not fit inside the service lift of Rajagopal’s apartment building. Six workers therefore carried the components up the stairs to his seventh-floor home.
By June 2026, the installation was complete.
The restored living room now includes a custom 32-inch television, functional lighting, USB charging ports, powered window shades and sliding privacy doors.
Although the installation does not reproduce the Residence’s bedroom and bathroom, it recreates much of the original living area’s appearance and functionality.
A costly passion with a practical purpose
Rajagopal has not disclosed how much he spent acquiring and restoring the suite.
He told CNN Travel that the investment was substantial enough to have bought a car.
Yet the restored cabin is not merely a collector’s exhibit.
He uses it to watch television, dine, work, relax and entertain guests. Carefully selected airline blankets, tableware, amenity kits and other accessories help recreate the atmosphere of premium air travel.
Rather than preserving the space behind glass, Rajagopal has incorporated it into his daily routine.
His project also illustrates how retired aircraft interiors can be restored and repurposed. Components that might otherwise be discarded can find new uses, preserving elements of aviation history.
Keeping the experience of flying alive
The Airbus A380 holds a distinctive place in commercial aviation. As the world’s largest passenger aircraft, it became closely associated with long-haul travel, spacious cabins and elaborate premium services.
Although Airbus ended A380 production in 2021, the aircraft continues to operate with several airlines.
For Rajagopal, collecting its components provides a connection with the aircraft that has shaped much of his personal and professional life.
But bringing part of the A380 experience home has not diminished his enthusiasm for travelling aboard the aircraft.
As he told CNN Travel, “If I have a flight tomorrow, I treat it like my first flight.” His story is ultimately about more than unusual acquisitions or luxury interiors. From a childhood fascination with transport in Kochi to a Dubai apartment housing part of Etihad’s most exclusive airline suite, Rajagopal has found a way to make his passion for aviation part of everyday life.
