Emirates has debuted its new premium economy cabin from Melbourne, available between Dubai and Melbourne on daily EK406 and EK407 services and it’s something to behold.

The premium economy cabin is unmatched in the industry, offering plush cream leather seats and a wood veneer, a generous baggage allowance and an exceptional dining experience, staffed by a team of cabin crew dedicated to premium economy passengers.

The introduction of premium economy to Melbourne is part of Emirates’ multi-million dollar retrofit programme, where a total of 126 aircraft, including 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s, will be fitted out with premium economy cabins. By 2025, nearly 4,000 new Premium Economy seats will be installed, 728 First Class suites refurbished and over 5,000 business class seats upgraded to a new style and design.

The introduction of the new cabin to Melbourne means the airline now offers three daily services from Australia with the new cabin, including two services from Sydney. In December last year, Sydney became the first city on the airline’s global network to offer Premium Economy on all its services. This year, Melbourne becomes the fifth city on Emirates’ network to offer premium economy alongside Sydney, as well as Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand and London, placing Australia and the wider region at the forefront of the airlines multi-billion dollar retrofit programme.

Since tickets went on sale on 1 June 2022 from Sydney, the airline has recorded significant demand for the new cabin, exceeding expectations and forecasts. Premium economy seats from Sydney have averaged over 90% percent load factors since launch on 1 August 2022 and the introduction of a second service on 15 December 2022. The airline anticipates similar demand in Melbourne as consumer confidence and travel demand continues to accelerate, coupled with the willingness of travellers to trade-up and try the quiet luxury of Premium Economy and meticulously customised experience it offers.

“This is an exciting period for Emirates in Australia, with Melbourne and Sydney sitting at the forefront of Emirates biggest investment in cabin redesign to date,” divisional VP Australasia, Emirates, Barry Brown, sai=d.

“We have a strong commitment to Australia, as one of our most important markets on our global network. Alongside continued increase of operations as we make a strong rebound, we are committed to offering Australians more choice in how they travel, and look forward to offering travellers between Melbourne an exceptional new experience.”

The Experience 

On a four-class Emirates A380 flying from Melbourne or Sydney, the premium economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Onboard, customers are offered a quiet luxury, with each 19.5 inch seat designed to provide optimal comfort and support, with 6-way adjustable headrests, a footrest and a generous recline. Each seat has a 13.3 inch screen, one of the largest in its class, in addition to in-seat charging points and a walnut wood-finished side cocktail table. The décor is inspired by Emirates private jet service, with cream-coloured leather and a wood panel finishing similar to Business Class.

Meal service in the new premium economy cabin. (Supplied)

The dining experience includes a welcome drink served in fine glassware, and a selection of meals made with seasonal ingredients, served on Royal Doulton china tableware with stainless-steel cutlery. Premium Economy customers are also offered an extended beverage list that includes vintage wines from Emirates’ Business Class list, including a sparkling Chardon and Chandon Vintage Brut 2016.

Boarding and leaving the aircraft offers a step up from economy. Flying with Emirates on its flagship A380 and passengers even beat the Business and First Class passengers off with the Premium Economy cabin situated at the front of the lower deck meaning passengers can leave from the lower front door.

Premium Economy customers are provided with complimentary amenity kits made with sustainable and recycled materials and soft, alongside sustainably made blankets and a generously sized pillow, both designed uniquely for Premium Economy. On the A380, passengers also have greater bathroom access, with three restrooms dedicated to up to 56 Premium Economy travellers.

The Emirates A380 experience has long been taking passenger comfort to new levels, with an extensive suite of products that turn the journey itself into a destination, including one of the industry’s largest screens for customers to enjoy the airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ice.

Ongoing commitment to Australia

Cabin crew on the first flight to Sydney in the new cabin. (Supplied)

The launch of premium economy to Melbourne adds to a bumper year of increased operation from Emirates in Australia, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to growing its services down under and providing eager travellers with more access to and from the country. As of 27^th March, Emirates began offering Australians other increased travel options including a third daily service from Melbourne which introduced a stopover to Singapore, as well as expanding one of its existing services from Sydney to fly onto Christchurch. From May 1, the airline will also introduce a third daily service between Sydney and Dubai, and from 1 June a second daily service between Dubai and Brisbane.

By mid-year, Emirates will be operating 63 weekly services to Australia with the capacity to transport more than 55,000 passengers per week to and from its major cities.