Emirates Adds Premium Economy Seats to Amman, Mumbai, Muscat, Bahrain

(AMMAN) Emirates will roll out Premium Economy on flights to Amman, Mumbai, Muscat, and Bahrain starting in late October 2025, expanding a fast-growing cabin that the airline says is fueled by strong demand and changing corporate travel habits. The move adds four regional gateways to a product that will reach more than 635 weekly flights and 68 cities by the upcoming winter season, with 36 cities set to be served only by aircraft that include a Premium Economy cabin by year-end. Emirates plans to offer over 2 million Premium Economy seats across its network by the end of 2025, up from 1.8 million as of August.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, has said the expansion is driven by “exceptionally strong passenger demand,” adding that Premium Economy “caters to the need of the corporate business” without pulling demand away from business class. The airline positions the cabin as a sweet spot for travelers who want more space and better service than Economy but don’t need a lie-flat bed or the higher price tag of Business.

For travelers in Amman and Mumbai, the October launch means access to wider seats, added legroom, and upgraded meal service on select flights, often on refitted Airbus A380s or Boeing 777s. The airline recommends confirming the aircraft type during booking to ensure the flight features the new cabin.

Rollout timeline and fleet program

The October start date for Amman, Mumbai, Muscat, and Bahrain is part of a broader plan to steadily scale Premium Economy through 2025.

• Emirates is undertaking a massive retrofit project covering 219 aircraft—110 Airbus A380s and 109 Boeing 777s—to add Premium Economy and refresh Business Class cabins.
• The retrofit pace is roughly one aircraft every three weeks, with 67 aircraft completed as of August 2025.
• Emirates’ engineering division, which includes more than 270 engineers and technicians, leads what the company calls the largest retrofit program of its kind in the industry.

Alongside retrofits, the airline is introducing new widebody aircraft:

• It currently operates nine new Airbus A350s to 15 destinations.
• The first long-range A350 is planned to debut on the Adelaide route in December 2025.

These newer aircraft and the retrofit program will allow Premium Economy to spread to more city pairs as cabin availability grows and older interiors are replaced.

The retrofit program timeline enables a steady expansion: one aircraft about every three weeks, combining retrofits and new A350 deliveries to hit seat and network targets.

Strategic rationale and market context

Emirates says the Premium Economy expansion is intended to capture new customers rather than dilute Business Class revenue. Key strategic points:

• Premium Economy aims to reach travelers who want more comfort than Economy at a moderate price point.
• Corporate travel policies have tightened, shifting many medium- and long-haul trips from Business to Premium Economy.
• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the mid-tier cabin is a practical cost-control tool for travel managers while maintaining reasonable comfort for staff.

Emirates has committed over US $5 billion to cabin retrofits and upgrades, signaling Premium Economy’s central role in its product strategy. Aviation analysts report Premium Economy seat occupancy above 80 percent on long-haul routes, reflecting strong demand.

What the expansion means for travelers

For passengers, the main benefits are more choice and a better onboard experience:

• Roomier seating and upgraded meal service
• A quieter, smaller cabin than Economy
• Easier itinerary stitching so travelers can stay in the same cabin across multiple legs, which matters on long connections through Dubai

Practical booking guidance:

1. Check if Premium Economy is available on your target route and date at emirates.com or via the Emirates app.
2. Select Premium Economy as the cabin class during search and confirm the flight is operated by a retrofitted A380, 777, or a new A350.
3. Complete the booking and review the confirmation to ensure the selected segment shows the Premium Economy cabin.

For travelers needing visas or entry permits—whether for transit in the UAE or onward travel—verify rules on official government portals before booking. The UAE Government Portal on visas is a reliable reference for layovers and short visits in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: UAE Government Portal on visas.

Operational and corporate travel implications

Operationally, the October launch will be watched closely by corporate travel managers across the Middle East and South Asia.

• Many companies are standardizing travel classes: Premium Economy for regional/medium-haul where available; Business for long or sleep-critical trips.
• For routes like Amman and Mumbai—where demand mixes family visits, tourism, and business—the airline expects steady cabin fills.

For families, Premium Economy can make a tangible difference on overnight flights:

• Extra space improves rest on red-eyes into Dubai and onward to South Asia or Europe.
• The smaller cabin size can reduce foot traffic and disturbance during the flight.

Fleet, engineering, and program scale

Emirates’ internal capacity plan is straightforward: more retrofitted and new aircraft equals more Premium Economy seats and routes.

• Retrofit scope: 219 aircraft (110 A380s + 109 777s)
• Completed as of August 2025: 67 aircraft
• Engineering team: 270+ engineers and technicians
• Retrofit program start: November 2022
• By end of 2025: nearly 40% of the fleet expected to carry the new interiors

The work includes removing and installing cabins, updating in-flight entertainment screens, and refreshing Business Class alongside adding Premium Economy. The program must be coordinated with regular maintenance and scheduling to keep aircraft in service.

Targets and future outlook

• Emirates expects to offer over 2 million Premium Economy seats by the end of 2025 (up from 1.8 million in August).
• By the end of 2025, 36 cities will be served exclusively by aircraft that include Premium Economy.
• Looking ahead, Emirates aims for about 4 million seats annually in Premium Economy by the end of 2026.
• The airline is also developing new Economy Class seating concepts as part of a broader focus on cabin comfort across all fare classes.
• A pipeline of additional Premium Economy routes across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia is planned through 2025, with details to be released in phases.

Practical steps for travelers around the October rollout

• Search for flights after late October 2025.
• Filter for the Premium Economy cabin and double-check the aircraft type on your chosen flight.
• If your trip includes a transit stay in the UAE, review entry rules in advance on official channels like the UAE Government Portal on visas.
• Confirm cabin availability with Emirates agents or trusted travel advisors when in doubt.

Emirates’ well-funded retrofit plan is changing the network: more Premium Economy on more routes increases the chance passengers can stay in the same cabin on complex journeys. For markets like Amman and Mumbai, the mid-tier cabin is moving from long-haul showcase routes to busy regional corridors—soon to be widely available.