Business travellers had been waiting for it eagerly. But it is finally done: the Emirates Airbus A380 operating daily flights EK071 and EK072 between Paris CDG and Dubai is now fitted with all of the airline's new cabins. Including the famous Premium Economy, highly praised by travellers for its exceptional comfort.
Since their launch in Lyon and Nice, the Premium Economy cabins on flights departing from and arriving to France have shown a solid load factor. One in ten passengers travels in this class to Dubai, demonstrating the growing demand for a more accessible high-end cabin.
By a quirk of the airline's aircraft reconfiguration schedule, it was the Lyon and Nice stopovers that were the first to offer the new Emirates product, with Paris coming in last...
The installation of Economy Premium on the A380 serving Paris-Dubai thus allows Emirates to now offer a consistent product across all three of its French destinations.
A significant proportion of Premium Economy traffic to France originates from long-haul markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand.
For journeys of more than ten hours, passengers indeed look for more space, comfort and a more exclusive onboard experience. Passengers departing from France travelling with Emirates favour these same destinations, as well as Indian Ocean islands such as the Maldives and Mauritius. All of these are also served in Premium Economy, allowing customers to enjoy the airline's newest cabin throughout their journey.
For Cédric Renard, General Manager of Emirates in France, the arrival of Premium Economy in Paris was a necessity: « France is an important and historic market for Emirates. We are delighted to now be able to offer our latest-generation cabin across all of our French destinations. The rollout of Premium Economy in Paris is therefore a natural progression, allowing a greater number of travellers in France to discover the exceptional comfort, world-class service and all the well-thought-out details that make a difference in this cabin.
Paris is among the busiest stops on our global network, both in terms of departures and arrivals. This investment demonstrates our confidence in the French market, and our long-term commitment to offering our customers more choice, flexibility and premium travel options. ".
Exceptional experience on the refurbished A380
Emirates' award-winning Premium Economy indeed offers a superior experience, from take-off to landing. Often compared to Business Class, it is located at the front of the A380 main deck and features 56 seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. Passengers enjoy cream leather reclining seats, equipped with a padded leg rest and a six-position adjustable headrest, for enhanced comfort.
The gourmet menus, inspired by the regions served and created by Emirates chefs, are served on fine bone china. Meals are presented on a spacious wood-finish dining table built into the seat's armrest.
The menus are accompanied by a selection of premium wines, including in particular:
a Haut-Bailly 2014, a Chablis Premier Cru Jean-Marc Brocard 2024 or a Chandon Vintage Brut 2021.
Passengers travelling in Premium Economy Class benefit from a dedicated check-in desk and priority boarding at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, as well as a baggage allowance of 35 kg for hold luggage and 10 kg for cabin baggage.
As well as Premium Economy, the refurbished A380 offers numerous improvements across all travel classes. In addition to new lighting and a fresh colour palette, Emirates has renewed its iconic onboard lounge and exclusive First Class shower spa.
All cabins in the new edition can be booked departing from Paris, with Emirates furthermore guaranteeing flexible booking conditions and comprehensive travel insurance, due to the still complicated situation in the Persian Gulf.
