Emirates Airlines has unveiled its newly introduced Premium Economy class on the Tokyo/Narita-Dubai route to the press and travel industry representatives.
From December 20th, the route has been served by a newly refurbished four-class Airbus A380 aircraft. The aircraft accommodates a total of 484 seats, featuring 14 First Class Suites, 76 Business Class seats, 56 Premium Economy seats, and 338 Economy seats.
The Premium Economy cabin is arranged in a ‘2-4-2’ layout, with 56 seats located at the front of the lower deck. The seats offer a generous 40 inches of pitch and are 19.5 inches wide. They are upholstered in cream-colored anti-stain leather with stitching designs and finished with wood panels similar to those found in Business Class. Amenities include a 13.3-inch monitor, a headrest and footrest that are adjustable in six directions, a leg rest, dining table and cocktail table with a wood trim, as well as AC power outlets and two USB ports. The seats also offer Bluetooth connectivity to the personal monitors.
Priority boarding is available for Premium Economy passengers, and checked baggage allowance is up to 35 kg. Dubai International Airport features dedicated check-in counters for this class. However, lounge access is available for an additional fee.
Onboard services include welcome drinks, ceramic dining ware for in-flight meals, as well as premium wines, sparkling wine, and post-meal offerings like liqueurs and chocolates. To enhance comfort, passengers are provided with blankets made from recycled bottles, large pillows featuring the national tree of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ghaf, and a comfortable amenity kit. The cabin is serviced by three crew members, while on flights operating on Japanese routes, it is common to have 5-6 Japanese cabin crew members.
At present, the service is introduced on 14 routes, making its debut in East Asia with Japan. The decision to introduce this class was due to the significant demand from families and business travelers. In Japan, more than half of the passengers are international visitors, and reservations for the cherry blossom season are especially strong. The airline notes substantial use from passengers arriving at Kansai International Airport and departing from Narita or Haneda Airports.
During the event, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Satish Sethi, President of Emirates Airlines in Japan, gave remarks. The service launch was celebrated with a toast by Toshiaki Kanzaki, Executive Officer of Sales at Narita International Airport.
Ultimately, Premium Economy will be introduced across 67 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777 aircraft, totaling 120 aircraft and offering more than 4,000 seats.
