Most Emirates Flights From Europe Now Have a Cabin in the Middle

For years, flying Emirates from Europe meant choosing between economy and a much pricier business class. That gap is closing. The Dubai airline says its Premium Economy cabin is now available on flights to 31 of its 41 destinations across Europe and the United Kingdom this winter, after Paris Charles de Gaulle joined the list on October 25. That means most Emirates passengers starting a journey in Europe now have the option of a middle tier on at least the first leg to Dubai.

Emirates operates an average of 78 daily flights between Dubai and Europe, so the expansion touches a large share of its network. Premium Economy offers wider seats, more legroom and upgraded dining compared with economy. On the airline’s newest Airbus A350s, each Premium Economy seat also has a full-height privacy screen that rises at the push of a button, an electric leg rest, a wraparound headrest and wireless charging, which goes further than many rivals’ versions of the cabin.

The rollout is part of Emirates’ multibillion-dollar retrofit program, which had already refreshed 108 aircraft with its latest cabins. Because the product depends on which aircraft is assigned to a given flight, availability can vary by date and route. Travelers should look for the Premium Economy fare option when searching, and check the seat map, since an aircraft swap can occasionally remove the cabin from a specific departure.

The airline is also adding 31 weekly flights for the winter season to popular warm-weather and long-haul destinations reached through Dubai, including Cape Town, Nairobi, Phuket, Hanoi, Manila, Tokyo Narita and Accra, while Helsinki strengthens onward connections. For European travelers heading to those places, the combination of extra frequencies and a mid-priced premium cabin makes a one-stop trip via Dubai more competitive on comfort as well as price.

Sources: Aviation A2Z