Emirates has announced that retrofitted Boeing 777-300 aircraft featuring Premium Economy will serve flights EK953/954 between Dubai and Beirut from January 6, 2026 and flights EK306/307 between Dubai and Beijing, starting from February 1, 2026. *
Beijing becomes the fourth city in the Chinese mainland to receive Emirates’ latest aircraft and next-gen products, while travellers to and from Beirut will experience the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy and new Business Class cabin in 1-2-1 layout for the first time.
For Lebanon’s capital city, EK953 departs Dubai at 1540hrs, arriving in Beirut at 1700hrs, with the return EK954 departing at 1945hrs and arriving in Dubai at 0050hrs. ** The schedule offers seamless connections to and from major cities with significant Lebanese diaspora communities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Montreal. Customers can enjoy a consistent Premium Economy experience across both legs of their journey, with many of these cities being served by retrofitted Boeing 777s and A380s featuring the airline’s latest interiors.
Emirates’ flight EK306 departs Dubai at 3:20hrs, arriving in Beijing at 14:45hrs. The return flight EK307 takes off from Beijing at 00:40hrs, landing in Dubai at 5:30hrs. ** Travellers can enjoy a consistent Premium Economy experience from Beijing to popular destinations across Emirates’ global network, including London Heathrow, New York JFK, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Madrid, Malé and Lisbon, as well as key cities in the Gulf region such as Kuwait, Riyadh and Amman.
The refurbished four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300 features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including modern colour palettes, specially designed Ghaf Tree motifs, and wood finishes across all cabins. Each aircraft includes 260 of the latest-generation Economy seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, 40 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, and eight First Class Suites.
Emirates’ Premium Economy has garnered glowing feedback for its unique value and standout features. Passengers can expect a Business Class-like experience at a more accessible price, featuring spacious leather seats with a generous recline, full leg and footrests, adjustable headrests, in-seat charging points, a wood-finished side cocktail table, and a 13.3-inch TV screen. Premium Economy also includes generously sized pillows and blankets, complimentary amenity kits on select flights, and globally exclusive sparkling wine – Chandon Vintage Brut 2017.
Emirates’ Boeing 777 Business Class cabin has also been redesigned, with seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration to offer privacy, full aisle access, and ample space to work, lounge, and rest. Each seat is wrapped in champagne leather, matching the ones on the latest Emirates A380, with detailed stitching and soft, cushioned headrests.
* Aircraft deployment may be advanced if released earlier from refurbishment
Emirates Premium Economy and Economy Class customers on long haul flights globally will be treated to a new range of complimentary amenity kits, onboard in December. The buttery-soft new pouches incorporate bio-based materials including cactus and form a collectible range designed in partnership with United for Wildlife (www.UnitedForWildlife.org), to highlight the most endangered species on the planet. For the first time, Premium Economy kits will contain skincare wellness products for customers from plant-powered brand, Aveda.
Emirates’ new reusable amenity kits celebrate the diverse wildlife of the world, in four natural environments: the sea, sky, forest and desert. Hand drawn designs adorn each bag, and each pouch contains a story card that gives some insight into the wildlife featured. The endangered species that Emirates and United for Wildlife are highlighting include African grey parrots, Arabian gazelles, Arabian oryx, Asian black bears, Bengal tigers, Blue sharks, Bornean orangutans, Cape vultures, Chimpanzees, Fennec foxes, Geckos, Gibbons, Glass frogs, Green sea turtles, Manta rays, Painted bats, Pangolins, Peregrine falcons, Red sand boas, Small-clawed otters, Straw-headed bulbuls, Totoaba and Western gorillas.
Customers can learn more about HRH Prince William and The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife by watching the series ‘Guardians’ on Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system ice, as it spotlights the unsung heroes and wildlife rangers who risk everything to protect the natural world.
Emirates new 2025/26 Premium Economy Class Amenity Kit Bags
For the first time since its introduction in 2021, Emirates’ Premium Economy class will have its own unique amenity kit bag with a handy wrist strap and filled with travel wellness products. Generous in size, the travel and wellness essentials inside include soft socks, eyeshades, earplugs, a Colgate dental kit, and Aveda lip balm, hand relief moisturising cream, and hydrating face lotion. The socks and eyeshades are made from 100% recycled post- consumer polyester, while the story card and ear plugs packaging are made from paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Available on overnight flights of longer duration, each collectible kit bag highlights endangered species through hand drawn artwork, as well as on a card inside which tells the story of the creature highlighted – from Pangolins, Glass frogs, Chimpanzees, Bengal tigers, Asian black bears, Totoabas, Small-clawed otters, Manta rays, Green sea turtles, Geckos, Peregrine falcons, Red sand boas, Fennec foxes, African grey parrots, Painted bats, Straw-headed bulbul and Cape vultures.
Emirates new 2025/26 Economy Class Amenity Kit Bags
Emirates new Economy Class kit bags are colourful keepsakes, filled with comfort items for travellers. These kits also contain soft socks, eyeshades, earplugs and a Colgate dental kit. The socks and eyeshades are made from 100% recycled post- consumer polyester, while the story card and ear plugs packaging are made from paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Available on overnight flights of longer duration, each collectible kit bag highlights endangered species through hand drawn artwork, as well as on a story card inside which tells the story of the creature highlighted – from Arabian gazelles, Arabian oryx, Blue sharks, Western gorillas, Gibbons, Bornean orangutan, Bengal tigers, Asian black bears, Small-clawed otters, Manta rays, Green sea turtles, Peregrine falcons, Fennec foxes, African grey parrots, and Cape vultures.
Emirates Environmental Sustainability Framework
Emirates’ ongoing partnership with United for Wildlife reflects a deep commitment to the prevention of illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products – a core pillar of the Emirates Environmental Sustainability Framework (http://apo-opa.co/3XW3JC8). Emirates is actively involved in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking and exploitation and is a member of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce. Emirates has zero tolerance towards the illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products and its freight arm, Emirates SkyCargo, has implemented a complete ban on hunting trophies of elephants, rhinoceros, lions and tigers. In June 2023, Emirates reinforced its commitment to environmentally responsible practices by achieving IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Stage One and the IEnvA Illegal Wildlife Trade module certifications.
About United for Wildlife
Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2014, United for Wildlife aims to make it impossible for traffickers to transport, finance or profit from illegal wildlife products. By working collaboratively with the transport and finance sectors, building key partnerships with law enforcement and NGOs, and sharing information and best practices across the sectors, and across borders, United for Wildlife is disrupting this criminal network globally. www.UnitedForWildlife.org
Learn about the endangered animals on Emirates’ amenity kits
African grey parrots
African Grey parrots are widely trafficked for the pet trade, where they are highly sought after. Their heads and feathers are also increasingly valued in African traditional medicine. Renowned for their exceptional intelligence, these parrots can learn extensive vocabularies, mimic sounds, and use words contextually, demonstrating cognitive abilities comparable to those of a five-year-old child. They also form strong social bonds with humans, often developing affectionate relationships with their owners.
Arabian gazelles
Arabian gazelles are primarily trafficked for sale in exotic animal collections and for illegal hunting. These animals are notable for their adaptations to harsh desert environments, distinctive reproductive behaviours, and their important role in both conservation efforts and local culture. Arabian gazelles possess specialized physiological traits that enable them to survive extreme heat and arid conditions. In addition to their biological adaptations, they are highly valued within human culture and play a vital role in maintaining the balance of their native ecosystems.
Arabian oryx
Arabian oryx are trafficked mainly for the exotic animal trade and are also poached for their horns, meat, and hides. They exemplify a major conservation achievement, having been reintroduced into their native habitats after becoming extinct in the wild. Arabian oryx are well known for their remarkable adaptations to harsh desert environments and serve as important cultural symbols of resilience and national identity throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Asian black bears
Asian black bears are poached for their gall bladders, claws, and teeth, and are increasingly trafficked as exotic pets. Also known as Moon Bears, they are distinguished by their arboreal lifestyle and significant cultural importance. Adapted for climbing, they feature a characteristic crescent-shaped white patch on their chest and are regarded as sacred in many Asian cultures, frequently appearing in regional folklore and art.
Bengal tigers
Bengal tigers are poached and trafficked for their skin, claws, teeth, and bones, with their derivatives highly valued in Eastern medicine. Each Bengal tiger has a unique stripe pattern, much like a human fingerprint. Unlike most big cats, they are excellent swimmers and possess the longest canine teeth of any feline species, making them formidable predators. In India, Bengal tigers are also an important cultural symbol, embodying nobility and strength.
Blue sharks
Blue Sharks are trafficked for their fins, skin, livers, and meat. Shark liver oil is commonly used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Fins are highly valued for their use in soups served at significant banquets and celebrations, such as weddings, in Asia, with even smaller fins now being displayed as symbols of wealth. Shark skin is processed into leather products.
Bornean orangutans
Bornean orangutans are prized in the exotic pet trade. Orangutans stand out for their high intelligence and close genetic relationship to humans, sharing approximately 97% of our DNA. As “gardeners of the forest,” they play a vital ecological role by dispersing seeds throughout their habitat. Orangutans are also distinguished by their specialized arboreal lifestyle, complex social behaviours, and long, powerful arms adapted for life in the trees.
Cape vultures
Cape vultures face significant threats from mass poisoning events aimed at other large animals and are also targeted for the traditional medicine trade in Africa. As essential scavengers, vultures play a critical role in their ecosystems by consuming carcasses, thereby preventing the spread of disease to other wildlife and humans. They can soar for hours at altitudes up to 10,000 feet without flapping their wings. In southern Africa, Cape vultures are the only species that nest in large colonies, typically roosting on layered rock ledges and cliffs.
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are prized in the exotic pet trade and are also poached for their meat, hands and skulls. Chimpanzees are unique as our closest living relatives, sharing 98% of our DNA. They exhibit exceptional intelligence, complex social behaviours, and advanced problem-solving abilities. Notably, chimpanzees are among the few species that use and modify tools, display cultural traditions, and demonstrate self-awareness. Their intricate social structures, capacity for learning, and important ecological role in forest environments further highlight their significance.
Fennec foxes
Fennec foxes are trafficked for the pet trade and by private collectors. They are distinguished by their large ears, which aid in dissipating heat and detecting prey underground. Their feet are covered with fur to protect them from hot sand, and they can obtain all necessary water from their diet. Fennec foxes are highly social animals, typically living in family groups. Additional adaptations include a lowered heart rate and metabolism, effective camouflage, and specialized hunting techniques.
Gecko
Gecko are prized in the exotic pet trade and are highly sought after by reptile collectors. Geckos are remarkable for their extraordinary climbing abilities, enabled by microscopic hairs called setae on their feet that generate adhesive forces, allowing them to move effortlessly on walls and ceilings. They possess the unique ability to detach and regrow their tails as a defence mechanism. With over 1,500 species, geckos play a vital ecological role in controlling insect populations and are also known for producing distinctive vocalizations.
Gibbons
Gibbons are increasingly poached for the exotic pet trade. Gibbons are notable for their remarkable agility, speed, and distinctive social organization. They move swiftly through the forest canopy using brachiation—swinging from branch to branch with their long arms. Unlike many other primates, gibbons typically form long-term, monogamous pairs and live in close-knit social groups.
Glass frogs
Glass frogs are prized in the exotic pet trade. Glass frogs are remarkable for their translucent skin and muscles, which make them nearly invisible to predators. They enhance this camouflage by concealing most of their red blood cells in their liver while at rest, increasing their transparency. Additionally, in some species, males actively defend their eggs from predators such as wasps, displaying highly specialized protective behaviours.
Green sea turtles
Green sea turtles are trafficked for their shells and meat and are often taxidermized whole for decorative purposes. In some cultures, turtles are regarded as symbols of good luck. As adults, green turtles are the only large sea turtles that are strictly herbivorous, playing a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems such as seagrass beds. They are also exceptional navigators, using the Earth’s magnetic field to return to their nesting beaches after extensive migrations. The temperature of the sand where their eggs are buried determines the sex of the hatchlings. Green turtles nest in 80 countries and inhabit the coastal waters of 140 countries.
Manta rays
Manta rays are trafficked for their gill plates, which are used in traditional medicines in Asia. They are notable for their intelligence, impressive size, and gentle disposition. As some of the largest fish in the ocean, manta rays have the highest brain-to-body size ratio among fish and display advanced social behaviours, such as visiting cleaning stations and possibly using echolocation.
Painted bats
Painted bats are poached mainly for the ornamental and taxidermy trade, valued for their vivid orange and black coloration. Online demand for decorative items far exceeds what could be met by naturally deceased bats, making all commercial trade unsustainable given their solitary habits and low reproductive rate—just one pup per year. Painted bats are notable for their unique flight, specialized roosting in dried banana leaves, and their role in insect control. Illegal trade and habitat loss have made them ‘Near Threatened’ status.
Pangolins
Pangolins remain under threat from poaching for their meat and scales. Pangolins are unique as the only mammals covered in large, protective keratin scales. These distinctive scales, combined with features such as exceptionally long tongues for consuming ants and termites and the ability to curl into a tight defensive ball, set them apart from all other species. Unfortunately, these very traits contribute to their status as the most trafficked mammals globally, as they are heavily hunted for their meat and scales, which are wrongly believed to possess medicinal value.
Peregrine falcons
Peregrine falcons are poached for the live bird trade. Renowned as the fastest animals on Earth, they can reach speeds exceeding 200 mph during their hunting dive, or stoop. Highly adaptable, peregrine falcons inhabit every continent except Antarctica and are celebrated as a symbol of successful endangered species recovery through conservation efforts. Their physical adaptations include bony tubercles in their nostrils that enable breathing at high speeds and a specialized tomial tooth on their beak for efficiently killing prey. Peregrine falcons also hold significant cultural importance throughout the Middle East.
Red sand boas
Red sand boas stand out for their vital role in controlling rodent populations, their specialized adaptations for life underground, and the cultural myths that fuel both high demand and illegal trade. These stout, reddish-brown, non-venomous snakes are prized in the exotic pet market for their calm temperament and ease of care, while in agricultural settings, they contribute significantly by preying on rodents and supporting farm pest management. They are sought after by many who believe they embody supernatural powers.
Small-clawed otters
Small-clawed otters are trafficked for the pet trade and for use in pet cafés, where customers pay to interact with them. They are notable for their intelligence, social nature, and distinctive physical traits, including partially webbed paws that enable them to handle objects and catch prey such as crabs and mollusks. As the smallest otter species, they live in social groups, communicate through a complex system of at least a dozen vocalizations, and are more terrestrial than other otter species.
Straw-headed bulbuls
Straw-headed bulbuls are heavily targeted by poachers for the lucrative Asian songbird trade, prized for their striking appearance and exceptionally melodious songs. As the largest bulbul species in Southeast Asia, their distinctive calls make them especially sought after by collectors and hobbyists. This intense demand has led to widespread trapping, which, together with ongoing habitat loss, has caused dramatic population declines and pushed the species to the brink of extinction, now classified as critically endangered.
Totoaba
Totoaba are a large fish that lives off the coast of Mexico. Totoaba are notable for their highly prized swim bladders, which command significant value on the illegal market. This demand has driven extensive poaching, pushing the species to the brink of extinction and severely threatening the vaquita porpoise through bycatch. In traditional Chinese medicine and luxury cuisine, totoaba swim bladders are especially sought after and are sometimes traded as investment items.
Western gorillas
Western gorillas are targeted by poachers and traffickers for both the exotic pet and bushmeat trades. Notable for their remarkable intelligence and strength, gorillas live in complex social groups led by a dominant silverback male and maintain strong family bonds. Sharing approximately 98% of their DNA with humans, they exhibit human-like emotions such as laughter and sadness. As the largest primates on Earth, gorillas are primarily herbivorous and possess the ability to use and create tools, such as using sticks to measure water depth.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.
Spectators at the Emirates Dubai 7s were treated to a spectacular Emirates A380 low-level flypast over The Sevens Stadium to mark the UAE’s 54th Eid Al Etihad.
Taking off from Dubai International Airport, the aircraft made its approach over the stadium at 4:30pm, gliding past at an altitude of just 500 feet and delighting thousands of fans gathered for the region’s biggest sports and entertainment festival. Commanding the flight was Captain Mubarak Al Mheiri, Deputy Chief Pilot Airbus, supported by Captain Khalid Bin Sultan, Captain Philippe Lombet, and Captain Nabil Al Rustamani.
This year’s flypast continues Emirates’ long-standing tradition of celebrating Eid Al Etihad at the Emirates Dubai 7s, a tournament with more than five decades of history which has become the highlight of Dubai’s annual sporting calendar. The 2025 edition once again brings together world-class rugby action, numerous sports competitions, and vibrant music and family entertainment across an unforgettable Eid Al Etihad weekend.
United and Emirates announced a historic commercial agreement that will enhance each airline’s network and give their customers easier access to hundreds of destinations within the United States and around the world*.
United will launch a new direct flight between Newark/New York and Dubai starting in March 2023 – from there, customers can travel on Emirates or its sister airline flydubai to more than 100 different cities. Tickets for United’s new Dubai flight are now on sale.
Starting in November, Emirates customers flying into three of the nation’s biggest business hubs – Chicago, San Francisco and Houston – will have access to nearly 200 U.S. cities in the United network – most of which only require a one-stop connection. At eight other U.S. airports served by Emirates – Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC – both airlines will have an interline arrangement in place.
United and Emirates announced their agreement today at a ceremonial event at Dulles International Airport, hosted by United CEO Scott Kirby and Emirates President Sir Tim Clark, featuring United and Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and flight crews from each carrier.
“This agreement unites two iconic, flag carrier airlines who share a common commitment to creating the best customer experience in the skies,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “United’s new flight to Dubai and our complementary networks will make global travel easier for millions of our customers, helping boost local economies and strengthen cultural ties. This is a proud moment for both United and Emirates employees, and I look forward to our journey together.”
“Two of the biggest, and best-known airlines in the world are joining hands to fly people better to more places, at a time when travel demand is rebounding with a vengeance. It’s a significant partnership that will unlock tremendous consumer benefit and bring the United Arab Emirates and the United States even closer,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. “We welcome United’s return to Dubai next year, where our hub Dubaiessentially becomes a gateway for United to reach Asia, Africa and the Middle East via the combined network of Emirates and flydubai. We look forward to developing our partnership with United for the long term.”
Soon customers of both airlines can book these connecting flights on a single ticket – making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier. For example – travelers will be able to visit United.com or use the United app to book a flight from Newark/New York to Karachi, Pakistan or go to Emirates.com to book a flight from Dubai to Atlanta or Honolulu.
This agreement will also give the loyalty program members of both airlines more opportunities for more rewards: United MileagePlus® members flying on United’s Newark/New York to Dubai flight can soon earn and redeem miles when connecting beyond on Emirates and flydubai and Emirates Skywards members will be able to earn miles when they travel on United operated flights. Eligible United customers will also soon have access to Emirates lounges when connecting to and from United’s new Dubai flight.
Both airlines have recently announced significant investments in the customer experience. Emirates will retrofit more than 120 aircraft as part of a $2 billion effort that includes elevated meal choices, a brand-new vegan menu, a ‘cinema in the sky’ experience, cabin interior upgrades, and sustainable choices. At United, the airline will add 500 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft to its fleet with a focus on a new signature interior that includes seat-back screens in every seat, larger overhead bins, Bluetooth connectivity throughout, and the industry’s fastest available in-flight WiFi.
* Codeshare activities and United’s new flight to Dubai are subject to government approvals.
United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing, current livery):
As part of its continued drive to ensure customers ‘fly better’, Emirates has selected the new Thales’ AVANT Up system for its incoming fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2024.
The airline’s investment of over US $350 million will see its 50-strong fleet of A350s equipped with next-generation inflight entertainment solutions that offer a memorable cinematic and personalised passenger experience.
The game-changing technology in Thales’ AVANT Up system features Optiq 4k QLED HDR displays – the only aircraft displays using Samsung’s QLED technology to immerse viewers in more than a billion colors. This rich display capability provides the perfect medium for Emirates’ unmatched ice inflight entertainment product which delivers over 5,000 channels of multi-language content including live TV, the latest box office movies, TV shows and music hits, and the world’s first inflight shopping channel, EmiratesRED.
The new system from Thales will also provide an enhanced ‘live’ television solution that offers a broader choice of live television and news in the highest available definition at 40,000 feet.
Emirates’ customers can also look forward to enhanced passenger connectivity with Optiq – the first smart display in the industry to offer two Bluetooth connections, built-in Wi-Fi for passengers to pair multiple devices including phones, tablets, headphones or even game controllers, while supporting up to 60 watts USB-C to fast-charge personal devices.
To further enrich passenger engagement, Emirates has chosen a variety of AVANT Up digital services including highly integrated personalisation features, expanded personal electronic device (PED) capabilities, and user interface enhancements which also enable visually impaired passengers to have an immersive experience.
Emirates is also the first airline globally to select Thales’ Pulse, a patented power management technology which will ensure that charging performance will be unaffected no matter how many users are charging their devices at the same time.
Reflecting a shared vision to innovate and shape future inflight experiences, Emirates and Thales also continue to collaborate on programs through Dubai’s Aviation X-Lab, an aviation-specific incubator.
Emirates today announced plans to debut its newly retrofitted A380s featuring its latest Premium Economy cabins to five new cities from December – New York JFK, San Francisco, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore. The airline will also add more Premium Economy seats on services to London Heathrow and Sydney, as its newly enhanced aircraft sporting refreshed cabins roll into scheduled service.
The airline aims to offer customers more opportunities to experience its highly acclaimed Premium Economy product, and its latest deployment plans will also see 85 A380s back in the sky by December, well-timed to serve the year-end travel demand.
Emirates’ enhanced A380s with Premium Economy to New York JFK, San Francisco, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore will operate as follows:
To New York JFK, Emirates will operate with its newly retrofitted A380 on EK203 and EK 204, starting from 1 December.
To Auckland, Emirates will debut its Premium Economy cabin on EK 448 and EK 449, starting 15 January 2023.
From 1 February 2023, Melbourne will become the second Australian destination to be served with the signature Emirates A380 featuring Premium Economy. Services will be deployed on EK 406 and EK 407.
San Francisco will become the second US destination to be served by the retrofitted A380 with refreshed interiors on EK 225 and EK 226, starting on 15 February 2023.
Emirates’ enhanced A380 with Premium Economy will land in Singapore for the first time on 1 March 2023, operating as EK 354 and EK 355.
Emirates will also update its schedules to London Heathrow, Sydney and New York JFK with its retrofitted A380 aircraft operating on the following services:
From 15 December 2022, Sydney will become the first city in the Emirates network to offer Premium Economy seats on all flights, with the introduction of the airline’s retrofitted aircraft on EK 414 and EK 415.
From 1 January 2023, London Heathrow will receive its third daily service with Premium Economy, with the new product debuting on EK 005 and EK 006.
From 15 March 2023, Emirates will operate its second A380 with Premium Economy to New York JFK on EK 201 and EK 202.
Emirates will also start A380 services with a Premium Economy debut to Christchurch from 26 March 2023, as an extension of the Dubai to Sydney service, operating with EK 412 and EK 413.
Scaling up A380 operations
With travel demand the strongest it’s been in more than two years, Emirates will provide customers more choice and a better experience as it ramps up A380 services to 42 destinations by the end of March 2023. In tandem, the airline is optimising its network to meet robust demand and enhancing its existing schedules to over 400 A380 departures from Dubai, offering 460,000 weekly A380 seats by March 2023, including 81,000 seats across its premium cabins, offering the very best in customer comfort.
By year end, the airline will be serving close to a third of its network with its flagship on 85 A380s as it unlocks more destinations like Houston, Bengaluru, Perth, Auckland, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, with additional cities to be announced in the coming weeks. With an expanded list of cities, Emirates will have recovered 75% of its pre-pandemic A380 network. The airline is also adding frequencies to popular cities already served by its flagship, bringing greater resiliency and stability to its operation.
Raising the bar for premium air travel
Since Emirates debuted its Premium Economy Class to London, Paris and Sydney, customer response has been overwhelmingly positive with demand exceeding expectations, demonstrating its appeal and willingness of travellers to trade-up and try the quiet luxury and meticulously customised experience it offers.
On a four-class Emirates A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. In the cabin, every inch of space anticipates customer needs with a generous seat pitch and width for working and relaxing, and customised features that offer function and convenience like in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table. The experience is rounded off with expertly curated in-flight amenities, an inventive menu and extensive beverage options.
The Emirates A380 experience has long been taking passenger comfort to new levels, with an extensive suite of products that turn the journey itself into a destination, including one of the industry’s largest screens for customers to enjoy the airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ice. Customers travelling in First and Business Class cabins can enjoy the aircraft’s signature features such as the popular Onboard Lounge and fully flat seats in Business Class, as well as private suites and Shower Spas in First Class.
Emirates recently announced plans to kick-off of its fleet retrofit programme, consisting of a multi-billion dollar investment to ensure customers continue to have the best experience in the sky. Starting from November, the airline will begin intensive work to upgrade and retrofit the interior cabins of 67 Airbus A380 and 53 Boeing 777 aircraft, with one aircraft rolling out into service every 16 days. By 2025, nearly 4,000 new Premium Economy seats will be installed, 728 First Class suites refurbished and over 5,000 Business Class seats upgraded to a new style and design.
Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the A380, with 118 double-decker aircraft in its fleet. Since A6-EVF, the first A380 reactivated in 2020 began flying, the operating fleet has clocked in more than 31,000 trips worldwide, carrying over 10 million passengers.
In other news, Emirates carried more than 10 million passengers on nearly 35,000 flights to 130 destinations this summer.
Having anticipated the strong return of travel demand, Emirates worked closely with its airport partners to operate as scheduled, minimise travel disruptions, and take customers to their planned holidays and trips to see friends and family across the world over the summer.
The airline also ramped up operations to serve customer demand during this busy period, reinstating daily services to London Stansted, and increasing flights to 33 cities on popular routes across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as to favourite holiday spots like the Seychelles, Maldives, Mexico and Miami.
In June, Emirates added Tel Aviv to its global network and in July it added a third daily flight to London Gatwick to serve travellers impacted by capacity cuts at Heathrow.
The iconic Emirates A380, the world’s largest commercial jet, was also deployed to serve high customer demand at over 30 cities around its network.
On ground, the airline re-opened and was operating 32 signature Emirates Lounges, including 25 dedicated lounges at major airports across its network, to provide frequent flyers and premium travellers with a comfortable haven to rest and refresh during their journey. The airline had also reinstated its trademark complimentary Chauffeur Drive airport transfers for First and Business Class customers in nearly all cities it serves.
Dubai International (DXB) is the world’s busiest international airport. With millions of Emirates customers arriving, departing, and transiting through DXB each month, the airline ensured smooth operations at its 24/7 hub with close co-ordination and additional resources deployed throughout the airport eco-system.
Travellers benefited from the airline’s investments in services and digital initiatives to reduce wait-times at the airport and facilitating a smooth flow for customers to complete their formalities and get to where they are going.
During the summer months:
over 3.8 million travellers across the network checked-in online via emirates.com and the Emirates App
over 500,000 travellers used the 22 self-service check-in kiosks and 38 baggage drop facilities in Dubai Terminal 3
over 11,000 travellers utilised Emirates’ home check-in services, which are complimentary for First Class passengers departing Dubai, entirely skipping the airport check in queue and proceeding straight to immigration
Emirates continues to rebuild its network and capacity as travel restrictions ease. It is currently operating at 74% of its pre-pandemic network/capacity and plans to increase that to 80% by year end. The airline is also commencing in November a US$2 billion retrofit programme to equip 120 aircraft with its latest onboard products.
Priding itself on a brand promise of ‘Fly Better’, Emirates is investing over US$ 2 billion to enhance its inflight customer experience, including a massive programme to retrofit over 120 aircraft with the latest interiors, plus an array of other service improvements across all cabins starting in 2022.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “While others respond to industry pressures with cost cuts, Emirates is flying against the grain and investing to deliver ever better experiences to our customers. Through the pandemic we’ve continued to launch new services and initiatives to ensure our customers travel with the assurance and ease, including digital initiatives to improve customer experiences on the ground. Now we’re rolling out a series of intensive programmes to take Emirates’ signature inflight experiences to the next level.”
Some of Emirates’ latest initiatives include: elevated meal choices, a brand new vegan menu, a ‘cinema in the sky’ experience, cabin interior upgrades, sustainable choices and a generous approach to the little touches that make travel memorable.
Starting from August, Emirates’ passengers can look forward to:
New Inspirations, New Menus: An award-winning team of chefs, a world-class catering team and a wide variety of suppliers have been assembled to design and deliver the best fine dining experience in the sky. New menus will be served on select Emirates routes in First Class, featuring dishes such as pan-fried salmon trout with moqueca sauce and creole rice, roasted duck breast with orange thyme jus, steamed broccolini and fondant potatoes. New menus will also be introduced to Business and Economy on the 1st of September.
Purposefully Vegan Choices: Emirates’ new vegan menu is carefully curated to cater to the growing numbers of customers pursuing this thoughtful lifestyle. Vegans, or anyone interested in a delicious and healthy plant-based meal, will enjoy handcrafted gourmet dishes such as pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, flavoursome jackfruit biryani and sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange. Desserts are a decadent affair with choices of chocolate truffle cake with hazelnut, pistachio and gold leaf, or green grape tart adorned with candied rose petals, vanilla custard, and berry compote glistening with yuzu pearls.
The Champagne and Caviar Experience: Emirates’ First Class experience, always a benchmark for service excellence, has been upped a notch in 2022. Customers can now savour unlimited portions of Persian caviar as part of the ‘dine on demand’ service, with an exquisite pairing of the world-renowned Dom Perignon vintage champagne. Emirates is the only airline with an exclusive agreement to offer the luxury brand on-board.
Cinema in the Sky: First Class customers can create a memorable movie moment on-board by ordering cinema snacks as they enjoy the 5,000 channels on Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system. The cinema snack menu includes moreish classics such as lobster rolls, juicy sliders, edamame, and salted popcorn, and can be ordered on demand. All passengers can also curate their own ice experience before their flight, simply by browsing and pre-selecting movies or TV shows on the Emirates app, which can then be synced to ice the moment they board, maximising the seamless travel experience.
Farm to Fork – Sustainable Supply Chain: Emirates’ customers departing on flights from Dubai can begin crunching on fresh greens harvested from Bustanica, the world’s largest vertical farm and newly-opened US$40 million joint venture investment through Emirates Flight Catering. Emirates is continuing to invest in sustainable operations and supply chains, seeking local food suppliers and farms wherever possible to serve the freshest produce on board.
Specialised Hospitality Training for Cabin Crew: Emirates has partnered with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, one of the world’s top hospitality management schools, to craft the Emirates Hospitality strategy and encourage inspiring customer experiences. Emirates Cabin Crew have already begun engaging in intensive training programmes focused on delivering the four service pillars: Excellence, Attentiveness, Innovation and Passion.
Upgraded Cabin Interiors in all Classes: The most significant investment is an extensive and record-breaking refurbishment of the aircraft fleet interiors, where cabins will be retrofitted with new or reupholstered seats, new panelling, flooring and other cabin features. Benefitting all Emirates passengers, every cabin class will be refreshed and new Premium Economy cabins installed. After the retrofit, Emirates will have a total of 120 aircraft offering Premium Economy seats – the only airline in the region to offer this cabin class, and enhanced interiors and features across all other cabins. With its first aircraft scheduled to roll into the Emirates Engineering Centre for retrofitting in November, planning work and trials have begun in earnest.
Additionally, Emirates confirms there will be more announcements about new products and services in the near future.
Emirates has announced plans to up frequencies to Mauritius starting October 1, 2022. The additional evening frequency which will operate up until January 31, 2023 is in response to increased travel demand to and from Mauritius, and will boost connectivity to the island nation.
Emirates’ third-daily flight to Mauritius will operate with the following schedule (all timings local): EK 709 departs Dubai at 22:10 hrs and arrives in Mauritius at 04:45 hrs. EK 710 leaves Mauritius at 06:30 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 13:05 hrs.
The third-daily flight will boost seat capacity to and from Mauritius by approximately 35%, catering to the surge in demand and providing added support to the tourism industry during one of the busiest travel seasons. The added frequency supplements the existing double-daily Airbus A380 services and will also offer customers travelling to Mauritius with more flexibility when planning their trip with the choice of an early morning arrival at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in addition to the existing EK 0701 service which arrives mid-morning, and EK 0703 that arrives early evening. Travellers departing Mauritius will also have ample choice to connect safely and seamlessly to Dubai, and through Dubai onwards to Emirates’ global network of 130 destinations. All three daily flights offer code sharing with Air Mauritius to allow greater access and a seamless travel experience to and from the island nation.
Emirates started operations to Mauritius in September 2002 with three weekly flights and currently is in its 20th year of operations to the Indian Ocean destination.
Emirates has been building up connectivity in response to growing customer demand on the back of rising travel confidence and the easing of international travel protocols. Boosting connectivity and expanding its Tel Aviv schedule with a second daily flight, and recently resuming passenger services to London Stansted, Emirates has sufficiently restored its pre-pandemic frequencies as travellers return to the skies.
Top Copyright Photo: Emirates Airline Airbus A380-861 A6-EVK (msn 260) (Journey to the Future) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 958444.
The President of Emirates Airline and the CEO of Heathrow Airport held a constructive meeting on July 15. Emirates agreed the airline was ready and willing to work with the airport to remediate the situation over the next 2 weeks, to keep demand and capacity in balance and provide passengers with a smooth and reliable journey through Heathrow this summer.
Emirates has capped further sales on its flights out of Heathrow until mid-August to assist Heathrow in its resource ramp up, and is working to adjust capacity.
In the meantime, Emirates flights from Heathrow operate as scheduled and ticketed passengers may travel as booked.
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