Emirates Celebrates Successful First Year of Premium Economy Operations
Emirates recently marked the one-year anniversary of its full-service Premium Economy class, revealing impressive figures of over 160,000 passengers upgrading from Economy to this premium offering during the past year.
The airline debuted its Premium Economy seating in August 2022, and a statement released on August 2, 2023, highlighted some remarkable statistics. Over the same period, the dedicated cabin crews served a staggering 192,000 meals to passengers.
Currently, 20 Emirates Airbus A380s are equipped with these sought-after Premium Economy seats, with 14 of them having been retrofitted by the airline’s in-house maintenance arm, Emirates Engineering.
For travelers seeking to experience the comfort of Premium Economy, a range of 11 destinations are available, including prominent locations in the United States, London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), and four destinations across Australia and New Zealand.
Emirates has exciting plans for the remainder of 2023, with upcoming flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) set to feature A380s fitted with these upgraded economy seats. The airline has also hinted at further destinations that will soon be revealed.
The reception of Emirates’ Premium Economy Class has exceeded expectations, with the airline stating that customer response has been overwhelmingly positive. The appeal of its understated luxury and elevated experience at great value has resonated with a diverse range of traveler segments.
Emirates shared that 50% of Premium Economy travelers fly solo, while the other half comprises families. Additionally, 60% of passengers enjoying the Premium Economy experience are members of the Emirates Skywards loyalty program.
The official launch of the Premium Economy cabin took place in May 2022, promising passengers luxurious seats, enhanced legroom, and a service comparable to top-tier business offerings of other airlines. Tim Clark, President of Emirates, expressed his confidence in the quality of the Premium Economy product, emphasizing the meticulous attention given to every detail of the customer experience.
Clark recalled the significant demand and positive response the cabin received since its introduction in January 2021.
The introduction of Premium Economy is a pivotal part of Emirates’ extensive retrofit initiative, a multi-billion program aimed at upgrading the interiors of 67 Airbus A380 and 53 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Emirates has set ambitious goals to install over 4,000 Premium Economy seats, along with 700 First Class and 5,000 Business Class seats upgraded to the latest interior, by the conclusion of this program.