Emirates will introduce its Premium Economy cabin on flights between Dubai and Paris from October 25, 2026, deploying a fully retrofitted Airbus A380 on the route.
The upgraded aircraft will operate daily services EK071 and EK072 between Dubai International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
The move means all three Emirates destinations in France, Paris, Lyon and Nice, will offer Premium Economy, following earlier deployments of the cabin on services to the French Riviera and Lyon.
Premium Economy comes to daily Dubai-Paris A380 flights
Emirates will use one of its refurbished A380s for the daily Paris service, bringing both Premium Economy and updated interiors across the aircraft’s other cabins.
The airline said demand for Premium Economy has been strong since the product was introduced on its Lyon and Nice routes.
According to Emirates, around one in ten passengers travelling to Dubai from those French gateways currently chooses Premium Economy.
The airline sees particular demand among passengers making longer journeys beyond Dubai.
Inbound traffic to France includes travellers originating in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, India, Thailand and the UAE, while passengers departing France frequently connect through Dubai to similar long-haul markets as well as Indian Ocean destinations including the Maldives and Mauritius.
Many of these routes already feature Premium Economy, allowing passengers to remain in the same cabin throughout connecting journeys.
“France is an important and longstanding market for Emirates, and we’re delighted to now offer our newest cabin experience at all gateways we serve,” said Cedric Renard, Emirates’ Country Manager in France.
“Expanding the cabin to Paris is a natural next step, giving more customers in France the opportunity to experience the exceptional comfort, world-class service and thoughtful details that distinguish this cabin.”
Emirates A380 offers 56 Premium Economy seats
Premium Economy is located at the front of the A380’s main deck and features 56 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.
Seats are upholstered in cream leather and feature additional recline, cushioned leg rests and six-way adjustable headrests.
Passengers also receive an upgraded meal service with food served on Royal Doulton china, linen napkins and Robert Welch cutlery.
At Paris Charles de Gaulle, Premium Economy passengers will have access to a dedicated check-in counter and priority boarding.
The fare also includes 35kg of checked baggage and 10kg of cabin baggage.
Retrofitted A380 brings upgrades to all four cabins
The deployment is not limited to adding Premium Economy.
Emirates’ retrofit programme includes refreshed First Class, Business Class and Economy Class cabins, with updated interiors using cream, bronze and light blue tones and lighter wood finishes.
The airline’s ghaf tree motif, inspired by the national tree of the UAE, has also been incorporated into the redesigned interiors.
Emirates’ signature A380 facilities remain on the refurbished aircraft, including the Onboard Lounge and First Class Shower Spa, both of which have received updated finishes and lighting as part of the retrofit.
The deployment is part of Emirates’ wider programme to refurbish a significant portion of its existing Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleet and expand Premium Economy across its international network.
All three Emirates gateways in France to offer Premium Economy
With Paris joining Lyon and Nice, Emirates will offer its newest cabin product across its entire French network from late October.
Paris remains one of the airline’s major European destinations and an important connecting market for passengers travelling between France and Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Indian Ocean destinations through Dubai.
The retrofitted A380 will begin operating EK071 and EK072 on October 25, 2026, coinciding with the start of the aviation industry’s 2026/27 northern winter schedule.
Tickets featuring the new cabin are already available for booking.
