Emirates Introduces A380 Premium Economy on Dubai Flights

Emirates will be enhancing its services to the Japanese city of Osaka by introducing the A380 aircraft starting from June 1.

The A380, retrofitted with the airline’s latest Premium Economy product, will serve as the second Japanese gateway to operate with the newly upgraded aircraft.

This upgraded service will not only provide increased seat capacity on flights to and from Japan’s second largest city but also introduce the highly sought-after Premium Economy Class for customers, alongside refreshed interiors across First, Business, and Economy Class cabins.

Commencing June 1, Emirates’ four-class A380 will replace the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently operating the EK316/EK317 service to and from Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX).

With the upgraded A380 operations, Emirates will offer an additional 910 weekly seats between Dubai and Osaka, providing more opportunities for travelers to connect to and beyond Dubai, including popular destinations like Milan, Madrid, Brazil, Paris, and London.

Emirates celebrated the 20th anniversary of its services between Dubai and Osaka last year, having carried over 220,000 passengers on more than 360 flights between the two gateways in 2023.

The four-class Emirates A380 deployed to Osaka will feature 14 First Class suites, 76 lie-flat seats in Business Class, 56 seats in Premium Economy Class, and 338 ergonomically designed seats in Economy Class.

In the Premium Economy cabin, located at the front of the main deck with seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, every inch of space anticipates customer needs with a generous seat pitch and width for working and relaxing, along with custom features like in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table.

Passengers will enjoy Emirates’ award-winning “ice” in-flight entertainment, extensive beverage options, and expertly curated in-flight amenities. Business and First Class passengers will have access to Emirates’ onboard lounge, with First Class passengers enjoying exclusive access to the airline’s luxurious shower spa.

Emirates launched its Premium Economy product on the Dubai-Narita route in December 2023, and it has since received significant interest from customers. The distinctive product is available on flights to 14 other destinations globally, including New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, London Heathrow, Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangalore, Sao Paulo, and Dubai.

Emirates’ A380 operations to Kansai International Airport (KIX) align with Japan’s expectation of increased tourism through unique attractions in the Kansai region, such as Osaka and Kyoto, alongside a packed schedule of events, including the Osaka-Kansai Expo planned for 2025.

Emirates also operates a daily four-class A380 service to Tokyo Narita and a daily Boeing 777-300ER service to Tokyo Haneda, providing convenient air connectivity to serve the growing demand across Japan’s three largest international travel hubs.