Mumbai, Oct 21 – Emirates, the renowned airline, marked the anticipation of its Premium Economy launch in India with an exclusive tour of its four-class A380 aircraft in Mumbai. This milestone positions Emirates as the first Middle East carrier in Mumbai to introduce this refined luxury travel experience.
The A380 aircraft, operating as EK506, showcased its Premium Economy cabins to a distinguished audience, including MIAL airport officials, VIPs, travel agents, corporate customers, and media representatives. The Premium Economy service is scheduled to debut on Emirates’ A380 flights to Mumbai and Bangalore from October 29 and on outbound flights from these cities to Dubai starting October 30.
Key figures present at the event included Prakash Tulsiani, CEO of Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), Ashwin Noronha, COO of MIAL, Dinaz Madhukar, Chief Commercial Service Officer at Adani Airports, and Mohammed Sarhan, Emirates’ Vice President for India and Nepal.
Emirates executives on the flight to Mumbai included Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, and Ahmed Khoory, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – West Asia and Indian Ocean.
Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ Vice President for India and Nepal, shared his thoughts on the Premium Economy launch: “Emirates Premium Economy has revolutionized travel for a growing segment of travelers looking to enhance their flying experience. We’ve received an immense response from customers, who have opted to trade up to Premium Economy and embraced the new levels of comfort and luxury it provides at great value. In line with the demand we have seen on the ten routes where the product is already available, we anticipate it will be highly-popular in India as well.”
He further emphasized, “With the ongoing surge in travel across our network, Premium Economy allows passengers to savor the perfect blend of luxury and affordability. This underscores our ongoing commitment to customers and delivering on our ‘Fly Better’ promise. As we incorporate Premium Economy cabins across a growing number of aircraft, we hope to extend this option on more routes.”
A spokesperson for CSMIA expressed delight in welcoming Emirates and highlighted the airport’s readiness to meet modern-day mobility requirements. The spokesperson stated, “With Mumbai Airport’s world-class offerings, combined with Emirates’ commitment to premium comfort and excellence on board, we are excited to provide passengers with the finest experience from CSMIA.”
Emirates’ Premium Economy cabins on the A380 feature 56 cream leather seats in a 2-4-2 configuration at the front of the main deck. The seats offer generous recline, increased legroom, and an elevated dining experience. Passengers can enjoy diverse regional menus and an extensive beverage selection. The inflight entertainment system has also undergone enhancements, with over 6,500 channels and content in regional languages, including Hindi, Marathi, and Kannada.
Emirates’ extensive fleet retrofitting initiative includes the installation of nearly 4,000 Premium Economy seats across 120 aircraft. Travelers between Dubai and Mumbai or Bengaluru can book Premium Economy seats on designated flights, with bookings available through emirates.com, Emirates sales offices, and travel agencies for outbound travel starting October 30.
