Emirates has announced that its new premium economy class will be available on certain routes from August 1, 2022.  

On May 9, 2022, during the Arabian Travel Market, the airline provided details of the new service, adding that premium economy tickets can be purchased from June 1, 2022. 

The service will first be deployed on Airbus A380 routes from the carrier’s Dubai hub to London, Paris and Sydney from August, while Christchurch will follow from December 2022.  

“Since we first introduced our Premium Economy seats in January 2021, the positive response and demand has been tremendous,” Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said in a press release.  

Clark said the airline has only six A380 aircraft equipped with premium economy so far, which is why the initial deployment is limited. Emirates will start a retrofit program to install Premium Economy on 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s in November 2022. 

“At the end of the programme, Emirates will have 126 aircraft fitted out with Premium Economy cabins, as well as our latest interiors across other cabins. It is a major investment to ensure our customers continue to have the best experience in the sky,” Clark commented. The airline had initially said it would install the cabins on 105 aircraft. 

Emirates says premium economy passengers will have their own check-in area at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The seats have 13.3-inch screens and pitch of up to 40 inches, with the possibility to recline 8 inches.  

On the A380, the premium economy section is at the front of the main deck with 56 seats laid out in 2-4-2 configuration. On the Emirates Boeing 777, Emirates will install up to 24 Premium Economy seats between Business and Economy. 

Read More: Emirates to retrofit premium economy on 105 aircraft, mulls new 777 biz class