- The EK255/256 service connecting Barcelona and Mexico City will operate with a refurbished Boeing 777-200LR with three classes and Premium Economy from 15 February.
- The airline will introduce its modernised A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with Premium Economy and new cabin interiors on more than 84 routes before 1 July.
Emirates continues to enhance the onboard experience and places Barcelona among the key cities in its network with the arrival of the acclaimed Premium Economy class. From 15 February, the airline will operate the route between Barcelona and Mexico City with the refurbished B777-200LR with three classes and Premium Economy. Emirates will also operate its EK187/188 service on the route between Barcelona and Dubai with a refurbished Boeing 777-300ER from 1 February.
Since 16 September, Premium Economy has been available on modernised four-class Boeing 777 flights to and from Madrid, offering passengers an enhanced travel experience with updated interiors and exclusive details in all cabins.
The company will continue to add its refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft and new A350s to key destinations in Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia, bringing Premium Economy class and its latest onboard products to more cities in its network.
Customers will enjoy the award-winning Premium Economy experience, with more legroom and additional amenities, high-quality cuisine and much more. The airline will deploy its refurbished A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with Premium Economy and new cabin interiors on more than 84 routes by 1 July, underscoring its commitment to delivering a premium and consistent experience across its network.
Planned expansions of Premium Economy routes
Europe and North America
- Barcelona and Mexico City: Emirates will operate its EK187/188 service with a refurbished Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from 1 February. EK255/256, the service connecting Barcelona and Mexico City, will operate with a modernised Boeing 777-200LR with three classes and Premium Economy from 15 February*.
- Rome: the daily EK099/100 service will operate with an A350 aircraft from 29 March.
- Copenhagen: A second daily service will be added from 1 June with an Emirates A350, as EK153/154.
Asia
- Cochin: From 29 January, two of the seven weekly services (Thursday and Sunday) on EK530/531 between Dubai and Cochin will operate with a refurbished Boeing 777-200LR.
- Karachi: From 1 March*, the upgraded three-class Boeing 777-200LR will commence daily operations as EK606/607.
- Taipei: Emirates will operate its refurbished Boeing 777-200LR on the daily EK386/387 service from 15 March* until 30 April, and from 1 May, these services will be operated with the A350.
- Phuket: From 1 July, a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket will commence with EK 390/391.
Australia
- Brisbane: From 29 March, daily flights EK EK430/431 will be operated by a refurbished four-class Boeing 777-300ER, joining the modernised A380 service introduced last year.
Africa
- Addis Ababa: From 1 March*, the refurbished three-class Boeing 777-200LR will operate daily on EK723/724.
- Cape Town: The third daily flight on the Dubai-Cape Town route, announced at the Dubai Airshow 2025, will now operate with a state-of-the-art Emirates A350 from 1 July 2026.
Middle East
- Basra: Thursday service with EK947/948 will operate with a refurbished four-class Boeing 777-300ER from 29 January.
- Kuwait City: The daily EK859/860 service between Dubai and Kuwait City will operate with a refurbished Boeing 777 from 1 February until 30 April, and from 1 May, the service will operate with an Emirates A350.
- Tehran: From 29 March, the refurbished B777 with a four-class configuration will operate daily flights with EK979/980.
Additional flights and capacity to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town
The airline will introduce its A350 on new daily services to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town, adding an additional frequency and offering customers greater connectivity alongside an enhanced onboard experience. The additional frequencies to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town will complement existing schedules and provide the capacity needed to meet the anticipated increase in travel demand during the summer.
From 1 June, a second daily service will be introduced between Dubai and Copenhagen; from 1 July, a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket and a third daily service to/from Cape Town will come into effect. All three services will be operated with the airline’s new A350 aircraft, which features the award-winning Premium Economy, as well as the latest Business Class and Economy cabins.
From 1 June, Emirates flight EK153 will depart Dubai for Copenhagen at 14:50 and arrive at 19:45. The return flight, EK154, will depart Copenhagen at 21:35 and arrive in Dubai at 5:55 the following day.** The new service has an optimal schedule to offer seamless connections from Copenhagen to popular destinations via Dubai, such as Bangkok, Bali, Manila, Tokyo Haneda and Phuket in East Asia, as well as convenient connections to Colombo and Malé. In addition, the service introduces new connections to key African cities such as Nairobi and Entebbe. Passengers travelling from key cities around the world, such as Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Delhi and Bangalore, will also benefit from the additional frequency to the Danish capital, with convenient connection times via Dubai.
From 1 July, Emirates flight EK390 will depart Dubai for Phuket at 22:40 and arrive at 08:10 the following day. The return flight, EK391, will depart Phuket at 10:00 and arrive in Dubai at 13:05. Travellers will benefit from additional travel options to this popular tourist destination, offering an early morning arrival ideal for those connecting from Europe, including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt, as well as Kuwait and Bahrain via Dubai. The new flight will also offer convenient connection times from Phuket to major destinations in Europe and the Middle East, including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Zurich and Amman.
On 1 July, flight EK778 will depart Dubai at 10:25 and arrive in Cape Town at 18:05; the return flight, EK779, will depart Cape Town at 20:00 and arrive in Dubai at 07:25 the following morning. The third frequency offers travel options with optimised connections to/from London, Dublin, Mumbai, Brussels, Australasia and key Asian markets, meeting both leisure and business travel demand.
Emirates’ twice-daily service to Cape Town has recorded high load factors over the past year, particularly during peak periods. Inbound demand from the GCC continues to grow, while outbound traffic to Europe and the US East Coast remains strong.
The airline will also operate its A350 to Rome and Taipei from 1 May.
Tickets can be booked at emirates.com, on the Emirates app, through online and offline travel agencies, as well as at Emirates retail outlets.
* The introduction of aircraft could be brought forward if the refurbishment is completed earlier.
** All times are local.
About EMIRATES
Emirates is the world’s largest international airline, connecting travellers to over 150 cities. Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s, and now operates the Airbus A350, offering spacious cabins and iconic onboard features across its fleet. With a culturally diverse workforce, Emirates serves its global customer base by offering exceptional services and first-class products, and has earned recognition from its customers for its industry-leading services, both on the ground and in the air.
Source: SERGAT Comunicación