Summary
- Demand for premium economy travel is growing as business class fares remain high, and Emirates’ premium economy offering is especially popular between Melbourne and Dubai.
- Emirates will introduce additional premium economy service between Melbourne and Dubai from February 1, 2024, providing more decisions for Australian passengers.
- The premium economy cabin has been a giant hit with Australian customers, with over 90,000 passengers selecting the premium economy experience because it was introduced.
As business class airfares remain stubbornly high and out of reach of most travelers, it isn’t surprising to learn that the demand for premium economy travel is growing. That is particularly unsurprising when the product is nearly as good because the premium economy offering from Emirates, which has proven so popular between Melbourne and Dubai that more seats are on the best way.
More premium economy seats for Melbourne
Sice its debut in April 2023, the Emirates premium economy cabin, with its sparkling latest surroundings, has proven a giant hit with Australian customers. Emirates flights to and from Sydney and Melbourne involve mid to long-haul sectors, so for individuals who find the business ticket a stretch, premium economy has turn out to be a really attractive option.
Photo: Emirates
Today, Emirates announced it should introduce a further premium economy service between Melbourne and Dubai, available from February 1, 2024, on flights EK408 and EK409. The premium economy cabin was introduced in April last 12 months on the EK406 and EK407 services, and these latest services mean there are near 800 weekly premium economy seats between Melbourne and Dubai.
Photo: Emirates
Emirates Divisional Vice President Australasia Barry Brown said Australia is one of the vital essential markets in its global network, so the airline is committed to offering Australians greater connectivity, more decisions, and differentiated offerings.
“With the extraordinary success of the Premium Economy cabin up to now in Australia, the extra Premium Economy service in Melbourne will give customers the chance to experience our unique premium products.”
The typical flight time on an Emirates A380 from Dubai to Melbourne is 12:39 hours, so the ambiance and luxury of the premium economy cabin elevate the entire flying experience. Australians are big beneficiaries of Emirates’ multi-million dollar retrofit program, where 126 aircraft, including 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s shall be fitted out with premium economy cabins.
The A380s are ever popular in OZ
Currently, 22 A380s are operating with premium economy and with two day by day services from Sydney and Melbourne, Emirates is offering close to three,200 seats. Since tickets went on sale in Sydney in August 2022 and Melbourne in April 2023, greater than 90,000 passengers flying to and from Australia have opted for the premium economy experience.
Photo: Emirates
The expensive refits are paying off handsomely for Emirates because the premium economy cabin is averaging greater than 80% passenger load aspects. In addition to the very comfortable onboard experience, passengers also profit from the premium economy cabin’s location on the front of the predominant deck, meaning they’re first off the aircraft via the lower front door, even beating the primary and business passengers.
Photo: Emirates
Emirates was knocking on the door as soon as Australia lifted its travel restrictions and has quickly ramped as much as 63 weekly services to Australia, able to transporting near 56,000 passengers per week. Last 12 months, it made quite a few route capability changes to satisfy demand, and in March, it added a 3rd day by day service from Melbourne, with a stopover in Singapore.
From May, Sydney also had three day by day flights and from November Emirates upgraded that to an Airbus 380 service. A second day by day flight was added to Brisbane in June, and in September, the airline announced its planned return to Adelaide in the summertime of 2024.
Have you ever flown premium economy with Emirates? Allow us to learn about it within the comments.