Dubai, UAE: Emirates is giving travellers across Europe more choice this winter, with Premium Economy now available on flights to 31 of its 41 destinations across Europe and the UK, and more onward connections through Dubai to some of the world’s most sought-after winter sun destinations.
Across this year’s winter schedule, Emirates will operate an average of 78 flights a day between Dubai and Europe. The airline is also adding 31 weekly flights to winter sun favourites and popular cities, including Cape Town, Nairobi, Phuket, Hanoi, Manila, Tokyo Narita and Accra. With more flights to choose from, travellers have greater flexibility when planning their trips.
Travellers can also break their journey with a stopover in Dubai, where warm winter weather makes it the ideal time to explore the city’s beaches, desert experiences, diverse gastronomy and shopping, with an extensive choice of world-class hotels for every budget.
The popular Emirates A380 is also serving 21 European destinations this winter, which means seamless connectivity to another 21 eastbound destinations also served by the airline’s flagship like Bangkok, Sydney and Tokyo.
Helsinki, Emirates’ newest European destination, is also strategically timed for onward connections across East and Southeast Asia, West Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa and Australasia, putting sun-soaked winter escapes and resort retreats within easy reach of Finnish travellers.
From island hopping to city escapes, Emirates’ codeshare and interline partners give travellers from Europe even more to explore, with 216 additional destinations beyond the airline’s own network across the Far East, Africa & Indian Ocean.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Winter is one of the busiest travel seasons for our customers in Europe, and we’re giving them more ways to enjoy it. Whether they want to discover somewhere new, unwind in the sun or spend time with family and friends, Dubai has lots to offer, but we’re also making it easier for them to reach the world’s most sought-after winter destinations beyond Dubai, with an expanded eastbound schedule and more of our popular Premium Economy seats deployed.”
More Premium Economy across Europe
On 25 October, Paris Charles de Gaulle became the latest European gateway to offer Premium Economy, bringing the cabin to 31 of Emirates’ 41 destinations across Europe and the UK. That puts the cabin within reach of most of the airline’s customers travelling from Europe.
Emirates’ Premium Economy gives travellers a more spacious and comfortable way to reach Dubai and the airline’s wider network, with roomier seats, extra legroom, elevated dining and a host of other thoughtful touches. The cabin is evolving further on Emirates’ newest Airbus A350s with each seat equipped with a full-height privacy screen that travellers can raise or lower at the touch of a button, in addition to an electric leg rest, a wraparound U-Dream headrest and effortless wireless charging.
The expansion of Premium Economy forms part of Emirates’ multi-billion-dollar retrofit programme, which has so far brought the latest cabin interiors to 108 aircraft.
Add a short winter getaway in Dubai
Travellers heading east or south from Europe this winter can turn their stop in Dubai into a mini-holiday. The winter months in Dubai include warm, sunny days ideal for exploring beaches, going on desert adventures, exploring its diverse alfresco dining scene and enjoying the city’s world-class shopping. Travellers are also spoilt for choice for hotels that suit every style of stay and budget.
Winter is also when the city hosts its biggest events and outdoor attractions, from Dubai Shopping Festival and Global Village, the world’s most visited theme park*, to a packed calendar of concerts and festivals, culminating in spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations. Customers can book their Dubai stopover packages combining flights and hotel stays with Dubai Experience or Emirates Holidays. With My Emirates Pass, customers can also enjoy exclusive offers at hundreds of restaurants, spas, attractions and retail shops across the UAE, simply by showing their boarding pass.
Customers travelling to Dubai can also enjoy unlimited free date changes on their bookings, a free 24-hour fare hold and reduced refund fees. For extra peace of mind, customers can add Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover, available in 27 countries, which includes unlimited worldwide medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and baggage cover, plus conflict cover of up to US$25,000 in medical expenses and a free trip extension of up to 30 days.
An unparalleled partnership network
Emirates’ codeshare and interline partners extend its reach well beyond its own network, giving customers travelling from Europe access to more than 216 cities across the Far East, Africa & Indian Ocean. Through the airline’s longstanding partnerships, travellers can book their entire journey on a single ticket and enjoy seamless connections, baggage checked through to their final destination, frequent flyer benefits and lounge access. Together, these partnerships give customers more destinations to choose from, greater flexibility and seamless onward connections across the region.
Across the Far East, 35 partners, including Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Garuda Indonesia, Bangkok Airways and Philippine Airlines, give travellers the choice to explore more than 123 cities. These include island and resort destinations such as Koh Samui, Phu Quoc and Langkawi and cities like Busan, Surabaya and Fukuoka. In addition, Emirates has further strengthened its presence in the Far East through the introduction of new rail partners with Korail in South Korea and Hong Kong Airport Direct to Macau.
In Africa, partners such as South African Airways, Airlink and Kenya Airways reach almost 75 points on the continent, including popular nature reserves, world heritage sites and safari getaways like Victoria Falls, Mount Kilimanjaro and Volcanoes National Park. Across the Indian Ocean, Maldivian, Air Seychelles and Air Mauritius connect travellers to island escapes from the Maldives’ atolls to Praslin and Madagascar.
*Based on data from Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)
