Emirates adds business class cues to premium economy

Insider Spotlight

• Emirates is pushing premium economy closer to business class territory by giving passengers greater control over privacy and personal space
• Its newest Airbus A350s will feature electrically powered premium economy seats with full-height adjustable privacy dividers
• The 28-seat cabin adds wireless charging, 4K entertainment screens and electrically controlled seating positions
  
  
  

Emirates is betting that privacy and greater control over personal space will become key differentiators in premium economy as airlines compete for travelers seeking more comfort without paying business class fares.

World’s first

The Dubai-based carrier on Sept. 7 unveiled what it describes as the world's first electrically powered premium economy seat with a full-height adjustable privacy screen, which will debut aboard newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft.

Passengers can raise, lower and lock the divider between seats using seat controls, creating separation for working, dining or resting.

The seat is also Emirates' first fully electrically powered premium economy product, with an integrated passenger control unit offering settings including lounge and meal modes.

28 seats, 2-3-2 configuration 

Emirates' A350 Premium Economy cabin has 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. Seats are 20 inches wide, with pitch of up to 39 inches.

They recline into a cradle position designed not to intrude into the row behind.

Middle ground 

Premium economy has become an increasingly important middle ground between economy and business class, giving airlines another way to segment cabins and capture passengers willing to pay for more space and comfort.

Emirates' emphasis on privacy suggests the competition is moving beyond wider seats and additional legroom toward features traditionally associated with higher cabin classes.

Exterior camera 

The redesigned product also includes Safran Seats' leather U-Dream adjustable headrest, a manually deployable leather footrest and wireless charging, which Emirates is introducing to premium economy for the first time.

Each seat also gets USB-C charging, a tray table with an integrated phone holder and a 13.3-inch 4K HDR touchscreen for the airline's ice entertainment system.

Newly delivered A350s will add left- and right-facing exterior camera views alongside existing forward and downward perspectives.

Narrow the experience gap 

Emirates introduced premium economy in 2022 and has since expanded the cabin across markets served by its A350 fleet.

The latest seat indicates the carrier sees continued room to narrow the experience gap between premium economy and business class while keeping the two products commercially distinct. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma