Emirates Airline announced today its plans to launch operations of its Airbus A380s retrofitted to include the new Premium Economy Class on five new routes from next December. This way, the service will be available on flights between Dubai (DXB) and New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Singapore (SIN), Auckland (AKL) and Melbourne (MEL) by the end of this year.
In addition, as of 15 December, Sydney will become the first city in the network to offer Premium Economy seating on all flights to and from Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD). The service will also be available on operations to Christchurch (CHC), from 26 March 2023, as an extension of the service to Sydney.
As of 1 January 2023, the airline will launch its third daily connection to London (LHR) using the newly retrofitted aircraft.
Emirates will also reinforce its position as the leading operator of the largest passenger aircraft ever built: it plans to expand its A380 services to 42 destinations covered and offer more than 400 weekly flights by March 2023. This is the most extensive scheduling of the model on the company’s network to date.
Timeline for the start of operations of Airbus A380s configured with Premium Economy cabins on the five new routes
- Dubai (DXB) – New York (JFK) – Dubai (DXB): flights EK 203 and EK 204, from 1 December. A second daily flight with Premium Economy cabins will be marketed as of 15 March 2023.
- Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) – Dubai (DXB): flights EK 448 and EK 449, from 15 January 2023.
- Dubai (DXB) – Melbourne (MEL) – Dubai (DXB): flights EK 406 and EK 407, from 1 February 2023.
- Dubai (DXB) – San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB): flights EK 225 and EK 226, from 15 February 2023.
- Dubai (DXB) – Singapore (SIN) – Dubai (DXB): flights EK 354 and EK 355, from 1 March 2023.
The service
Premium Economy customers have access to a dedicated check-in area at Dubai International Airport. Once on board, they receive personal hygiene and comfort items designed specifically for this middle class.
The cabin is decorated with wood panelling, similar to the one of Business Class. The cream-coloured seats are fitted with six-position headrests. They have 13.3-inch screens and an on-demand entertainment system with more than five thousand choices of audiovisual content. They are 19.5 inches wide, offer up to eight inches of recline and are spaced 40 inches apart.
The food and beverage service is also inspired by that available in Business Class. Passengers receive a complimentary drink before take-off and can then choose from a variety of dishes made with seasonal ingredients and served on ceramic tableware. The offer is complemented by premium wines and sparkling wines, as well as liqueurs and chocolates.
On the four-class Airbus A380s, the Premium Economy cabin is located in the forward section of the main deck. It has a total of 56 seats in a 2-4-2 layout.
See also: Emirates to resume flights to Auckland with Airbus A380 aircraft
