Emirates
has premium economy on some Airbus A380s and Boeing 777-300ERs, creating four-class configurations on both types. The cabin on its 777s entered revenue service in August 2024 from Dubai to Geneva, followed by Brussels and Tokyo Haneda.
Two more airports—Riyadh and Zurich—will receive the reconfigured equipment in October, followed by six US airports in late 2024/early 2025. When added to the airline’s four-class Airbus A380s, all but one of its US destinations will have the cabin this winter.
Predictably, Emirates’ management has said premium economy bookings have been “outstanding”; it’d hardly say otherwise. While I prefer to see verifiable data, such as bookings, the product appears well-received, helped by a substantial promotional campaign.
US premium economy routes on the 777
According to ch-aviation, Emirates currently has four 777-300ERs with the cabin, and more are undergoing transformation. Each aircraft has 24 seats in that cabin, together with six in first class, 38 in business, and 256 in economy.
The inaugural US service will be on November 1. As always, things may change. Routes include Emirates’ longest passenger service, Dubai-Miami-Bogotá, which was introduced in June 2024 on the three-class 777. It’ll see premium economy in February.
(The map is like this for easier viewing.) Image: GCMap
Northern airlines, including Emirates, switch to winter schedules on March 30 based on IATA slot seasons. That’s why March 29 is the last date for all six markets. We must wait to see if premium economy-equipped flights are extended to those airports through the summer.
- Chicago O’Hare: November 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, then daily from November 22 until March 29
- Boston: December 10, 13, and 15, then daily from December 17 until March 29
- Dallas/Fort Worth: January 9, 11, and 13, then daily from January 15 until March
- Seattle: daily from January 24 until March 29
- Newark (via Athens): daily from February 10 until March 29
- Miami (continues to Bogotá): February 19, 21, 22, 24, and 26, then daily from February 28 until March 29
US premium economy routes on the A380
Emirates’ four-class double-decker quadjets began carrying passengers in August 2022. As well as 56 premium economy seats, there are 14 in first class, 76 in business, and 338/341 in economy. The contrast with its two-class 615-seat A380s could not be starker. According to ch-aviation, it has 31 A380s with premium economy class. The most recent refurbishment was A6-EOI in August 2024.
- Houston Intercontinental: daily (all flights have it)
- Los Angeles: daily (all flights have it)
- New York JFK: daily (the other two daily flights do not have it)
- San Francisco: daily (all flights have it)
These two US airports won’t have it
While subject to change, Orlando and Washington Dulles are not yet down to have flights on four-class aircraft. Orlando’s five-times-weekly service remains on three-class 777-300ERs, while Dulles’ daily operation is on three-class A380s. It is unclear if and when they’ll see the cabin.
The changes mentioned above mean that the US will have more premium economy seats from Dubai than any other country between November 2024 and March 2025. Cirium shows 45,056 seats are due to be flown, more than a fifth higher than the next country, the UK, with 37,576.