Emirates has officially unveiled its interactive stand at the 8^thedition of AccessAbilities Expo – the region’s leading event for accessibility & inclusive innovation, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from the 19-21 October 2026. The exhibition was officially opened by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group and patron of the AccessAbilities Expo.

The Emirates exhibition revealed several innovative and future-focused ideas currently in development – including a cabin familiarization concept being explored for customers who are blind or have low vision, an accessible lounge suite for customers with reduced mobility, as well as biometric boarding gates for customers with accessible travel requirements.

Emirates cabin exploration for low vision

On the stand, Emirates showcased an immersive accessibility-led experience into the onboard journey for passengers who are blind or with low vision. Through a combination of spatial audio, tactile seat exploration and guided host interaction, the activation recreates key moments of the aircraft cabin experience in a calm, premium environment. Visitors are invited to be immersed in an audio-led experience while sitting in a real Emirates A350 aircraft seat with a U-Dream headrest, as the audio describes all aspects of the cabin around them. Rather than focusing solely on technology, the experience highlights how thoughtful design can help passengers build confidence, understand their surroundings, and travel with greater independence, dignity, and ease.

Emirates’ Barrier Free Access and Biometrics in Dubai

On the Emirates stand, visitors can see and experience the Emirates Biometric Path. In Emirates’ hub of Terminal 3, Dubai International (DXB), accessible boarding gates are equipped with a barrier-free design and biometrics that allow for smooth, independent movement for passengers with disabilities. The area now features flexible camera coverage, meaning that the cameras can self-adjust to heights and angles without restricting or dictating person’s movement if they are in a wheelchair. The Emirates self-service check-in kiosks have also been improved, with text-to-speech functionality, improved touchscreen usability, Braille and tactile features, audio accessibility through a headphone connection, and height-adjustable interfaces that support a wider range of passenger needs.

Emirates’ Accessible Lounge Suite

Emirates also showcased a new, dedicated wheelchair-accessible quiet area that offers customers with reduced mobility a comfortable and private space to rest and recharge before their flight. Emirates Lounge Suites provide customers with private space to relax, work, and dine in complete comfort and were first introduced to First Class Lounges in 2024. Drawing on the Emirates ground and inflight experience, they pair premium design with integrated technology – wireless charging and entertainment screens. The Accessible Lounge Suite is the next evolution of this concept. Designed to support passengers who use wheelchairs, passengers with reduced mobility, older travellers, and anyone who may benefit from additional comfort, transfer space or postural support while keeping the privacy and premium quality of the original suite. Finished with the latest Emirates lounge palette of wood, leather and marble finishes, the suite integrates accessibility into the design including a powered lift recliner with uplift, swivel, and recline functions, and integrated grab bars for enhanced support and independence. The lounge suite also has a dedicated wheelchair storage with accessible transfer space, for customers to relax independently or with the support of a companion. The prototype is currently being developed for First Class with the potential for other classes in the future.

The Emirates stand also showcased several products and services that Emirates currently provides to customers including:

Emirates Travel Rehearsals Programme

Emirates Travel Rehearsals are bespoke events arranged by Emirates and airports across the globe that allow enable children and young adults with autism, together with their families and support networks, to practice the journey through the airport to prepare for real flights – easing travel anxiety and empowering them to fly with more confidence. More than 35,000 Emirates staff have been trained to support customers with autism and can help facilitate travel, and Travel Rehearsals. Emirates teams work very closely with airport authorities and partners to make sure each rehearsal is a supportive and successful experience for the families.

Emirates has now completed 80 Emirates Travel Rehearsals across 6 continents, with more than 400 families positively impacted. Travel rehearsals have taken place across airports including: Accra, Amsterdam, Antananarivo, Athens, Bangkok, Barcelona, Bengaluru, Birmingham, Bogotá, Bologna, Brisbane, Brussels, Budapest, Cairo, Cape Town, Cebu, Christchurch, Clark, Colombo, Copenhagen, Da Nang, Dallas Fort Worth, Dar es Salaam, Delhi, Denpasar (Bali), Dubai, Dublin, Durban, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Hanoi, Harare, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Jeddah, Larnaca, Lisbon, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Los Angeles, Luanda, Lusaka, Madrid, Malé, Manchester, Melbourne, Miami, Milan, Muscat, Newcastle, Nice, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Perth, Peshawar, Phuket, Port Louis, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Seattle, Stockholm, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo, Toronto, Trivandrum, Valletta, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw and Washington D.C.

The ‘Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub’ on Emirates.com

Emirates Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on the flagship Emirates.com brings together information to help customers understand Emirates’ accessible and inclusive travel services, plan their journey and identify available support. Customers can choose to view and explore sections by disability, including Mobility Assistance, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, and Hidden Disabilities. If preferred, customers can search by looking at specific parts of the journey, which have been clearly arranged – Before your flight, Departure from Dubai, Onboard your flight, Connecting in Dubai and Arriving in Dubai. A third option allows customers to browse by specific needs, including Book Special Assistance, Prepare for travel with the autism-friendly guide, Explore Dubai Airport (DXB) Map and Sensory guides, Find Emirates Support on Be My Eyes support app for people who are visually impaired, Apply for a Sanad tourist card to access helpful services in Dubai, and more.

There are also dedicated sections on Travelling with a Wheelchair and Mobility Aids, and detailed information on Medical Travel – including the Frequent Traveller Medical Card (FREMEC) for eligible customers who have stable medical conditions, and guidance on travelling with medications and medical devices. The new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub also features a section on Family Travel with clear information on Travelling with Children, Travelling during pregnancy and Unaccompanied Minors travel.

Emirates’ Sensory Products & Fidget Toys

Emirates has designed a range of sensory products and fidget toys for customers of all ages that are available onboard in all cabin classes. Sensory and fidget tools are widely recognised to provide a familiar tactile activity and may help some neurodivergent passengers regulate sensory input, focus or feel more comfortable during travel. To support customers in this situation, Emirates has designed a tactile stress reliever in the style of an aircraft, two types of fidget cube and a branded aircraft rubber popper. The items are offered to passengers who are neurodiverse, anyone who is struggling onboard, and even to nervous flyers if appropriate.

Accessibility Features on Inflight Entertainment – ice

Emirates is committed to setting industry standards and accessibility for people with disabilities and now offers over 850+ movies with ‘Closed Captions’ and 200 movies with ‘Audio Description’, offering for customers with visual impairment. Emirates headphones are also compatible with hearing aids when set to the ‘T’ position. To alleviate anxiety or enhance relaxation, there are 12 channels of Wellbeing TV and 31 channels of Happiness and Wellbeing podcasts and playlists, including meditations and soothing sounds.

Onboard Emirates’ Airbus A350-900, a new user interface on ice has been designed in partnership with Thales and advocacy groups for customers with visual impairment, to ensure all customers have an intuitive, high quality inflight entertainment experience. The interface includes audio-cue navigation, voice metadata feedback, touch- and- swipe gesture support, helping passengers who are blind or have low vision navigate and select content more independently.

Emirates Accessible Chauffeur Drive Service

10 Emirates-branded wheelchair accessible vehicles are now available for customers in Dubai. The Emirates Chauffeur Drive accessible vehicle is a Mercedes V Class, with the lowered floor conversion kit offering easy and safe access to the vehicle, higher head clearance, electrically- operated easy -pull mechanism to board and off board the passengers, and adjustable seating arrangement options. Once inside, the additional safety restraints secure the customer who may have severe mobility disabilities. Emirates’ chauffeur drivers are currently being trained in mobility assistance and to support customers with disabilities. Currently, the wheelchair accessible vehicle is used for First and Business Class customers eligible for chauffeur drive services based in Dubai, with plans to extend its availability in the future.

Championing Change

Emirates is championing change in the aviation industry, with the goal of making travel more accessible and inclusive for everyone. As part of efforts to champion change, Emirates established a dedicated Office of Accessibility and Inclusion and became the World’s First Autism Certified Airline in March 2025. Emirates has trained more than 35,000 staff to support customers with autism and has introduced the ‘Travel Rehearsal’ initiative across 6 continents, allowing customers to practice the nuances of the airport experience before travelling.

Designing for Dignity

Emirates is engaged in designing new policies, processes, and products with a focus on dignity of customers with accessibility requirements. Empowering all customers to fly with confidence, Emirates introduced a new Accessibility policy and commitment in recent years and implemented new processes in Call Centres to support customer requirements, launched the Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on Emirates.com to support the customer experience, and introduced many new products to support Accessible Travel in collaboration with direct feedback from communities and groups with accessible travel needs.

Advancing Accessibility

Emirates continues to drive the accessible travel agenda forward in an evolving space, doing what is right and responsible, step by step and prioritising innovation. Emirates also works with an array of partners internationally to advance the accessible travel agenda – from legislators, to operators, to specific groups and communities, and global customers. Emirates also aims to advance accessibility by standardising global processes and creating consistency – online, in call centres, in airports and inflight.

Emirates announced:

Emirates is elevating the award-winning Premium Economy experience even further with the launch of the world’s first electrically powered Premium Economy seat, featuring a full-height adjustable privacy screen between every seat. Debuting on newly received Airbus A350 aircraft, the new seat combines industry-leading innovation with elevated comfort, giving customers greater control over their personal space. 

Installed in the Emirates A350 Premium Economy cabin in a spacious 2-3-2 configuration with just 28 seats, the new seat represents the airline’s latest investment in continuously raising the bar for customer experience. The electric privacy divider extends to the full height of the seat – the first feature of its kind in Premium Economy cabins worldwide. Emirates Premium Economy seats are a comfortable 20” wide, and seat pitch is up to 39” on the A350. Seats also recline into a cradle position without intruding on the row behind, so that customers can comfortably sleep and relax inflight.

How does it work?

Customers can effortlessly raise or lower the divider using the seat controls and lock it into position, creating a more private and personal environment for relaxing, dining or working throughout the flight. The new seat marks Emirates’ first fully electrically powered Premium Economy seat, where customers can also adjust their preferred seating position at the touch of a button using the integrated Passenger Control Unit, with dedicated settings like lounge mode and meal mode.

Ergonomic comforts in Premium Economy

Comfort has been further enhanced with the introduction of Emirates’ widely acclaimed U-Dream headrest by Safran Seats. Crafted in leather, the redesigned headrest provides exceptional neck and head support, allowing passengers to adjust the wings into multiple positions for personalised comfort. A manually deployable leather footrest offers additional relaxation and reduces leg fatigue.

Always-on power for customer devices

Wireless charging is also being introduced to Premium Economy for the first time, allowing customers to conveniently power compatible devices throughout the flight. Every seat also includes USB-C charging and a practical tray table with an integrated phone holder, transforming personal devices into a convenient second screen during meals or entertainment. 

High-definition inflight entertainment and new aircraft cameras

Customers can also enjoy Emirates’ award-winning ice inflight entertainment on a 13.3-inch 4K HDR touchscreen, delivering stunning picture quality with ultra-responsive navigation. On newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft, passengers will also enjoy enhanced aircraft camera views, with new left and right exterior perspectives joining the existing forward and downward cameras to provide an even more immersive inflight experience.

Generous meals and beverages in Premium Economy

The new seat builds on Emirates’ award-winning Premium Economy experience, where every element has been carefully designed to deliver an elevated journey from take-off to landing. Akin to a Business Class experience, customers enjoy gourmet, regionally inspired menus prepared by Emirates’ chefs and served on Royal Doulton fine china with linen napkins and stainless-steel Robert Welch cutlery. Meals are accompanied by a carefully curated selection of premium beverages, including Chandon Vintage Brut 2021, an exceptional Australian sparkling wine available exclusively to Emirates Premium Economy customers worldwide.

In Premium Economy, Emirates customers are also treated to a selection of acclaimed wines. From September, customers travelling on select routes may savour Chablis Premier Cru Jean-Marc Brocard 2024, which showcases the purity and mineral precision of one of Burgundy’s most celebrated Chardonnay producers, or La Parde de Haut-Bailly 2014, which offers the refined elegance of one of Bordeaux’s most respected Pessac-Léognan estates. October will also mark a first for Emirates, as Wiston Estate Brut NVbecomes the airline’s first English sparkling wine, served exclusively in Premium Economy on UK routes. Together, they reflect Emirates’ continued investment in offering customers an exceptional wine programme, supported by more than US$1 billion invested in the airline’s wine portfolio since 2006. 

Thoughtful amenity kits with complimentary skincare

On long-haul flights, Premium Economy customers also receive exclusive reusable amenity kits designed in partnership with United for Wildlife. Crafted using bio-based materials including cactus leather alternatives, the collectible bags celebrate endangered wildlife across four natural habitats while introducing premium plant-powered skincare products from Aveda for the first time in Premium Economy. Each kit also includes travel essentials such as socks, eyeshades, earplugs and a dental kit, with sustainable materials incorporated throughout the collection.

Continuing to redefine Premium Economy

Since launching Premium Economy in 2022, Emirates has continued to expand the cabin across its growing fleet, with the product now available across all markets which are currently served with A350 aircrafts.

Inspired by the airline’s signature Business Class experience, Emirates Premium Economy has set a new benchmark for the category – offering a level of comfort, privacy and refinement that rivals the Business Class cabins of many airlines. The cabin combines spacious seating, generous legroom, refined dining, world-class entertainment to deliver a distinctive travel experience that has earned multiple international awards including ‘Best Premium Economy Class’ at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2024 and 2025 and was named ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’ at the 2025 ULTRAs Awards.

The introduction of the world’s first electrically powered Premium Economy seat with a full-height privacy screen marks the latest chapter in Emirates’ long history of aviation innovation. From pioneering onboard connectivity and inflight Wi-Fi to introducing next-generation entertainment systems and continually investing in customer comfort, Emirates remains committed to delivering products that help customers Fly Better.

More airline news:

• The Icelandic Aircraft Mechanics Association (Flugvirkjafélag Íslands, or FVFÍ) announced on September 14, 2026, that its members employed by Icelandair voted overwhelmingly to initiate an i …
• Dubai-based carrier flydubai has successfully restored operations to 85 percent of its overall network, rebuilding its operational schedule to pass 125 destinations across 56 countries. Aver …
• Mexican cargo carrier Awesome Cargo has launched its first Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) operation on behalf of DHL Express, deploying an Airbus A330-200P2F registered as …
• ANA Holdings, Inc. announced on September 14, 2026, that its newly consolidated cargo airline will be named ANA Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd., operating commercially under the unified bran …
• South Korea’s low-cost carrier t'way Air officially began commercial passenger operations under its new corporate name, Trinity Airways, on September 10, 2026. Headquartered in Daegu with pr …

Emirates has become the first airline in the world to offer Comprehensive Travel Cover, an industry-first travel insurance product that handles it all, including medical cover for conflict-related incidents, backed by airline-managed hotel accommodation and extended-stay support across a range of disruption scenarios.

When itineraries include connecting on other airlines or Emirates services are unavailable, Emirates will also rebook disrupted customers to their destination at no additional cost, including where flights have been cancelled due to conflict-related disruption.

Customers can now plan and travel with even greater peace of mind from the moment they book their journey, with expanded medical cover in the insurance product, supported by Travel Guard, and additional disruption support by Emirates on top of the existing travel insurance offering.

Emirates’ new Comprehensive Travel Cover includes trip cancellation cover, compensation for baggage delay or loss, unlimited medical expense and emergency evacuation cover worldwide, among other generous benefits. Newly added conflict cover provides reimbursement for medical expenses of up to US$ 25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days. The cover is not restricted by government travel advice.

Rooted in Emirates’ ‘fly better’ brand promise and its duty of care to customers is airline-managed hotel accommodation during disruptions, including airspace closures**. This is in addition to existing customer-first benefits such as a free date change for tickets booked from 2 April, and the option to ‘hold my fare’ for 24 hours free of charge, giving travellers flexibility, reassurance, and support at every step.

Emirates Comprehensive Travel Cover is available at an accessible premium and delivers exceptional value.

More airline news:

• China Southern Air Cargo is set to expand its long-haul freighter fleet with an order for five Boeing 777-8 Freighters and two Boeing 777 Freighters. The agreement also includes options for …
• Delta is significantly expanding service to Las Vegas for CES 2027, adding new nonstop flights from Asia and boosting domestic connectivity during the peak travel window. The centerpiece of …
• VietJet Air’s move into Australia has shifted from exploratory ambition to a concrete, multi‑stage expansion plan, and the latest development — seeking regulatory clearance to establish a ne …
• Parata Air has entered a full emergency management regime after its financial situation deteriorated to the point where normal operations could no longer be sustained. The airline has implem …
• Pulling back due to high fuel costs: Frontier Airlines is undergoing one of its most significant network contractions in years, pulling out of six permanent cities and shutting down 20 route …

Emirates has made this announcement:

As travellers kick-start the search for their next holiday, Emirates is announcing that it will restore its nonstop Airbus A380 services to and from Auckland and Kuala Lumpur, starting on December 1, 2022.

The airline currently operates to both cities with a linked Boeing 777-300ER service, which makes a stop in Kuala Lumpur before continuing on to Auckland. The start of A380 flights will see both cities delinked and served with direct services to and from Dubai. The latest update to the airline’s schedule will offer customers greater levels of flexibility and much needed seat availability. The new services will also provide more opportunities to travel across the Emirates network with reduced transit times after the delinking of services, and faster connections to and from Europe, the Middle East, South Asia as well as Africa.

The nonstop services between Dubai and Auckland will also reclaim its title as the longest route on the Emirates network, clocking in 14,200 km, in addition to being one of the world’s longest non-stop scheduled commercial flights.

Emirates’ direct flight EK448 from Dubai to Auckland will depart at 10:05hrs and arrives at 11:05hrs the next day. The return flight will depart Auckland at 21:15hrs and arrives in Dubai at 05:25hrs the next day. All times are local.

Emirates’ A380 service to Kuala Lumpur, EK 346 will depart Dubai at 0330hrs, landing at 1435hrs. EK 343 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 0145hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0505hrs.

The reintroduction of the airline’s flagship A380 to Auckland and Kuala Lumpur will provide more choice for tourists looking to discover these exciting destinations, and also offers travellers a chance to experience the A380’s signature products and services across all classes. New Zealand is ramping up its visibility with a global campaign in key markets to encourage more visitors to come and re-live the country’s incredible experiences and stunning natural attractions. To promote Malaysia as a unique travel destination, Emirates recently signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with the Malaysia Tourism Board to develop inbound visitor traffic into the country from key markets across the airline’s network.

The Emirates A380 experience remains highly sought after by travellers for its spacious and comfortable cabins, and signature products that offer travellers the best experiences in the sky like the Onboard Lounge, First Class suites and Shower Spa. The A380 experience is always rounded off by award-winning hospitality, regional culinary creations and authentic tastes, and the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, with more than 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment at every customer’s fingertips.

The airline is accelerating the deployment of its flagship A380 aircraft in line with growing global demand for air travel, with 32 destinations currently being served on a scheduled basis, and more to be announced in the coming weeks and months.

Emirates aircraft photo gallery: