Emirates to launch premium economy on A380 flights to India

Dubai airline will introduce retrofitted A380s on services to Mumbai and Bengaluru in October

Premium economy prices have not yet been revealed, but booking will open soon. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Emirates will add its new premium economy cabins on superjumbo flights to Mumbai and Bengaluru starting on October 29.

Bookings will open soon for both routes.

Premium economy cabins on a four-class Emirates A380 double-decker are at the front of the main deck and have 56 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Welcome drinks, hot towels and an elevated menu can be found in premium economy. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Travellers flying in these cabins get wider seats and more legroom than those in economy, as well as in-seat charging points, a side drinks table and calf rests.

The upgraded in-flight service offers passengers special menus and in-flight amenities, including hot towels and a welcome drink. Travellers can also check-in for flights at a dedicated premium economy desk.

As well as having the airline’s newest class of cabin, the retrofitted A380 aircraft will also have refreshed interiors across all cabins.

This includes new colour palettes, with cream-coloured leather seats and light wood finishings in premium cabins. Hand-stencilled panels featuring ghaf trees – which are native to the UAE – have been added to the first-class shower spa.

No details on airfares for the journey were available at the time of publication. However, Emirates' economy flights to Bengaluru start at Dh1,125 and business class travel starts at Dh5,455, so airfares for premium economy are likely to land somewhere between these two.

Which Emirates flights have premium economy cabins?

Travellers can now check in for Emirates premium economy flights. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

The new cabin class is now available to Emirates customers travelling on A380 routes to London, Paris and Sydney.

A boarding pass for Emirates' premium economy cabin.

The new cabin has luxurious seats and more legroom.

Cabin crew hand out hot towels to passengers seated in the premium economy cabin.

Welcome drinks are part of the premium economy service.

An Emirates crew member details safety features for travellers flying premium economy.

The wood panelling in premium economy is inspired by Emirates' business-class cabins.

Each seat has a 13.3-inch screen, one of the largest in its class.

Premium economy seats offer six-way adjustable headrests.

Leather seats have a 40-inch pitch, are 19.5 inches wide and recline eight inches into a comfortable cradle position.

Travellers flying premium economy all have easily accessible in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table for drinks.

The cabin class offers passengers a distinct menu to choose from.

Each seat also has calf rests and footrests.

Welcome drinks and amenity kits are offered to travellers flying Emirates premium economy.

The new cabin will also be added on flights to New Zealand from December.

India joins a growing list of destinations enjoying premium economy on Emirates' flights.

The service – which picked up the world’s best premium economy award in this year’s Airline Ratings ranking – was launched late last year and is in operation on nine other routes.

These include three destinations in the US – New York, San Francisco and Houston – and to London Heathrow. It's also available on flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore, as well as the airline’s longest routes to Auckland and Christchurch.

The new cabin class will also be added to flights operating to Los Angeles in July.