Emirates Archives

Celebrate the 51st UAE National Day with Emirates

Emirates celebrates 51st UAE National Day on board

By Satu DahlAirlines, Featured, IFEC, Interiors, LightingNo Comments

Emirates is marking the 51^st UAE National Day with a range of exciting activities that include new design motifs and lighting schemes in its aircraft cabins, traditional Arabic sweets served on board and an exclusive UAE commemoration watch for sale on EmiratesRED in the Emirates Lounges in Dubai.

UAE National Day marks the union of the seven emirates and is celebrated on 2 December. Joining the celebrations, Emirates gives passengers in all classes departing Dubai an Emirati-inspired sweet treat, Qahwa or coffee-flavoured milk chocolate in a giftbox adorned with Arabic calligraphy. Passengers visiting Emirates Lounges in Dubai can enjoy miniature date tarts laced with Arabic coffee cream, or a delicately whipped and creamy date mousse.

As passengers board aircraft in Dubai and disembark at their destination, colourful mood lighting representing the UAE flag illuminates the aircraft interior and in another subtle touch, Emirates’ multi-award-winning ice inflight entertainment system will bear the iconic Ghaf tree, a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE’s desert environment. The motif is also used as a design highlight throughout Emirates’ newest Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft interiors.

Emirates’ in-flight entertainment library offers content about the history and future of the UAE, highlights of food and drink beloved in the region, UAE arts and culture including many movies, podcasts and songs by Emirati artists, as well as travel guides exploring UAE attractions and hidden gems.

Passengers can also purchase a limited edition Zinvo Air Blade 50 years Anniversary Edition Automatic Watch on board all Emirates flights.

November 24, 2022

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™matches will be aired live on Sport 24 onboard Emirates

Emirates to air FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 live on board

By Satu DahlFeatured, IFECNo Comments

Emirates will be airing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches live during its flights through the Sport 24 in-flight channel.

Emirates says that more than 200 of its aircraft are equipped with live TV, featuring dedicated sports channels – Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra. Emirates passengers can watch all FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Sport 24 via ice from 20 November.

Emirates passengers can also watch live match action in Emirates’ lounges before boarding their flights. Emirates provides complimentary lounge access to First and Business Class passengers, as well as Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members. Silver members can access the Emirates Business Class lounge in Dubai, while Premium Economy and Economy Class passengers can pay to access the lounge. Emirates says its lounges offer a range of luxuries for travellers from generous buffet dining with regionally inspired cuisine and healthy options, to self-serve alcohol stations, showers, free Wi-Fi and a private business centre.

Sport 24 also shows live matches from the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and the Asian Football Championship and airs top international sporting events including the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, the Olympic Games, National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), major golf championships, tennis grand slams plus sailing, horse racing and motorsports.

Full match schedules can be viewed in advance on https://www.emirates.com.

November 17, 2022

Emirates invests over US$2bn to enhance in-flight experience

By Satu DahlAirlines, Catering, Featured, InteriorsNo Comments

Emirates is investing over US$2bn to enhance its in-flight customer experience.

The project includes a retrofit of over 120 aircraft with the latest interiors, as well as an array of other service improvements across all cabins starting this year.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “While others respond to industry pressures with cost cuts, Emirates is flying against the grain and investing to deliver ever better experiences to our customers. Through the pandemic we’ve continued to launch new services and initiatives to ensure our customers travel with the assurance and ease, including digital initiatives to improve customer experiences on the ground. Now we’re rolling out a series of intensive programmes to take Emirates’ signature in-flight experiences to the next level.”

Refreshed menus

From August, Emirates will be offering its customers new menus on select routes in First Class, featuring dishes such as pan-fried salmon trout with moqueca sauce and creole rice, roasted duck breast with orange thyme jus, steamed broccolini and fondant potatoes. New menus will also be introduced to Business and Economy on 1 September.

Emirates’ new vegan menu will cater to the growing numbers of customers opting for this choice and includes handcrafted gourmet dishes such as pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, jackfruit biryani and sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange. The dessert menu includes chocolate truffle cake with hazelnut, pistachio and gold leaf, or green grape tart adorned with candied rose petals, vanilla custard, and berry compote glistening with yuzu pearls.

Emirates’ First Class experience offers passengers unlimited portions of Persian caviar as part of the ‘dine on demand’ service with a pairing of Dom Perignon vintage champagne. The carrier’s cinema snack menu includes lobster rolls, sliders, edamame and salted popcorn, which can also be ordered on demand.

For customers departing from Dubai, the airline will also be offering fresh greens harvested from Bustanica, the world’s largest vertical farm and newly-opened US$40 million joint venture investment through Emirates Flight Catering. Emirates says it is continuing to invest in sustainable operations and supply chains, seeking local food suppliers and farms wherever possible to serve the freshest produce on board.

You can find more details on the carrier’s refreshed dining experience here.

Upgraded cabin interiors

Emirates’ cabins will be retrofitted with new or reupholstered seats, new panelling, flooring and other cabin features, with every cabin class being refreshed and new Premium Economy cabins installed. After the retrofit, Emirates will have a total of 120 aircraft offering Premium Economy seats.

August 12, 2022

Rumours of the demise of the A380 appear to have been premature

By Chloe GreenbankAirlines, Featured, General NewsNo Comments

The announcement earlier this week that Lufthansa will bring some, or possibly all, its A380s back into service by next summer’s schedule means that over half the world’s fleet have been returned to service following the trauma of the last two years.

Always beloved by passengers, if not by accountants, some airlines, notably British Airways have been bullish returning their entire fleet as traffic demand has surged. Others have remained reticent but nevertheless appear to the priming their fleets for a comeback.

The key player in the mix is, of course Emirates who have 89 aircraft back in service and while they have retired two aircraft and have two more ‘inactive’ 33 remain in storage primed for a return to operation. It’s worth noting that EK’s Chairman Emeritus Sir Tim Clark said recently that he believes that for operations on ‘fat routes’ between slot constrained airports “it is hard to see how aircraft like the A350-1000 will cope with demand”. This of course, mirrors the philosophy put forward by Airbus when the type was in development. It is hard to deny the logic of the argument.

Meanwhile, adherents of the big twin lobby have advanced the idea that growth will be sustained and demand satisfied through expansion point-to-point hub bypass services.

Time will tell which argument carries the day but for now at least rumours of the A380s demise appear premature.

June 29, 2022

Emirates serves up Christmas spirit onboard

By Alexander PrestonCatering, Featured, IFECNo Comments

Emirates has revealed details of its festive onboard service.

Passengers in first and business class will be served a Christmas dinner beginning with lemon and herb king prawns served with fennel salad and cocktail sauce, or a classic salmon gravadlax. This is followed by roast turkey with chestnut stuffing, turkey bacon, paprika potatoes, and creamy Brussels sprouts with a cranberry jus lié. The menu is finished with a choice of delicious festive dessert.

Economy class passengers can enjoy roast turkey drizzled with cranberry jus lié, served with peas, roast potatoes, and pan-fried smoked chicken sausage. This is rounded off the feast with a chocolate mousse with mandarin compote topped with a festive chocolate button.

Those travelling on 24 and 25 December will also be offered a complimentary baked treat.

According to the airline, Emirates’ crew will be happy to take pictures of “your special moments onboard with your family or friends” and present it in a festive frame as a travel keepsake.

Those in first and business class will be offered Emirate’s new amenity kit bags featuring fresh fragrances and new pamper products from Italian luxury brand Bulgari. Passengers in economy class on long-haul flights, can take home kit bags inspired by Expo 2020 Dubai, and packed with comforts including socks, eyeshades, a dental kit and handy bookmark.

Young travellers up to 12 years old can also look forward to collecting a range of new Expo2020 inspired toys and bags, featuring Emirates’ Little Traveller pilots and cabin crew.

Holiday-themed boarding music welcomes passengers to their seat, with further festive music available on Emirates’ library of audio channels on ice, which also includes a wide variety of on-demand festive films and television programmes.

December 22, 2021

APEX confers first WORLD CLASS awards

By Alexander PrestonFeaturedNo Comments

The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) has introduced and conferred the new ‘WORLD CLASS’ award and accreditation.

Created in association Thailand-based Yates and Partners’ and peer reviewed at the Victoria University, Melbourne, by Associate Professor Dr. Maxwell Winchester, WORLD CLASS is the new “North Star” for aviation

According to APEX CEO Dr. Joe Leader, “APEX has an overriding mission transforming aviation to better serve its customers and our society.” As a response, WORLD CLASS requires airlines to consider their focus on the areas of sustainability, keeping the customer safe, brand integrity, comfort, engagement, service and cuisine.

Every aspect of the guest experience over many flights, in every class, is rated by industry professionals, and combined with analysis of one year’s NPS customer data of the in-flight experience to get a complete evaluation of the guest experience.

While announcing the new rating, APEX revealed the first seven airlines to achieve WORLD CLASS status.

Emirates was recognised for its ‘elegant service execution, high standards, engaging crew’. Its best-in-class IFE and quality first mindset was also highlighted.

Japan Airlines was highly praised for its ‘outstanding hospitality’ and ‘consistent service delivery from flight to flight’ with ‘warm and personable service.’

KLM was commended for its ‘leadership in sustainability, circular mindset evident at all levels,’ while Qatar’s ‘ultimate quality and detail management, generous space and seat concepts, guest experience innovation’ saw it rewarded.

Saudia’s ‘naturally generous Saudi hospitality, Singapore Airlines’ ‘elevated service standards, notable brand integrity, best in class customer relations’ and the ‘excellence in cuisine and extraordinary generosity’ of Turkish Airlines saw these airlines become the first cohorts of the audited awards.

Photo (left to right): Patrick Brannelly, SVP Retail, In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity, Emirates; Akira Kimura, SVP The Americas, Japan Airlines; KLM’s EVP Customer Experience, Boet Kreiken; Chief Customer Experience Officer at Qatar Airways, Rossen Dimitrov; Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO at SAUDIA; Joey Seow, Regional VP at Singapore Airlines; and İlker Aycı, Group CEO & Chairman, Turkish Airlines.

December 1, 2021

Emirates announces major retrofit programme

By Alexander PrestonFeatured, MRO, SeatingNo Comments

Emirates is to retrofit 105 of its modern wide-body aircraft with its Premium Economy product, in addition to other cabin enhancements.

The 18-month retrofit programme, scheduled to begin at the end of 2022, will be entirely conducted at Emirates’ state-of-the-art Engineering Centre in Dubai. It will see 52 Emirates A380s and 53 Boeing 777s fitted with a new cabin class –Premium Economy. The airline is also considering installing a brand-new Business Class product on its Boeing 777 aircraft, with customised seats in a 1-2-1 layout.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: “Emirates is investing in this retrofit programme to ensure that we continue to serve our customers’ needs, and provide the best experiences in the sky. Since we introduced our Premium Economy seats a year back, we’ve received a hugely positive response. Customers have been amazed by the quality and comfort. As Emirates has done with our signature First, Business and full-service Economy travel experiences, we intend to further develop our Premium Economy into a distinctive Emirates experience that is unmatched in the industry. We are also considering a brand-new Business Class product. More details will be revealed in due course.”

Sir Tim added: “It is also a source of pride that the entire retrofit project will be conducted at our home base in Dubai. It demonstrates the strong aviation capabilities that has been built up within Emirates airline and the broader UAE ecosystem to support such a highly specialised and technical programme.”

At the end of the retrofit programme, Emirates will have a total of 111 Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft offering Premium Economy seats, including the 6 A380s that would have been delivered to the airline with four cabin classes by December 2021.

On the Emirates Boeing 777, 5 rows of Economy class seats located just behind Business Class will be removed to install 24 Premium Economy seats laid out in 2-4-2 configuration. On the Emirates A380, 56 Premium Economy seats will installed at the front of the main deck also in 2-4-2 configuration.

Covered in anti-stain leather with stitching details and a wood panel finishing, each seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support with six-way adjustable headrests, calf rests and footrests. Offering a pitch of up to 40-inches, each seat is 19.5 inches wide and reclines eight inches into a comfortable cradle position with ample room to stretch out. Other thoughtful touches include easily accessible in-seat charging points, a wide dining table and side cocktail table.

The airline has also extended its partnership with Panasonic to provide a suite of IFEC solutions for the new cabin class.

November 18, 2021

Panasonic Avionics has been selected by Emirates to deliver a suite of in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions for its premium economy cabin being rolled out across its fleet.

Emirates continues relationship with Panasonic for premium economy experience

By Alexander PrestonFeatured, IFECNo Comments

Panasonic Avionics has been selected by Emirates to deliver a suite of in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions for its premium economy cabin being rolled out across its fleet.

Panasonic Avionics’ IFE systems are being integrated into the premium economy cabin being introduced on Emirates’ 52 Airbus A380 and 53 Boeing 777 aircraft, with the first due to enter service in the summer of 2022.

This follows the unveiling of Emirates’ premium economy cabin in December 2020, and its initial rollout on several of its newest A380 aircraft.

Emirates’ new premium economy cabins will feature a range of the latest IFE innovations from Panasonic Avionics. Thirteen-inch HD screens will be fitted at each seat, with integrated control buttons, ultra-wide viewing angles, LED backlighting and capacitive touch helping passengers choose from over 4,500 channels of entertainment on Emirates’ ice system powered by Panasonic Avionics.

Passengers can connect their own headphones to the IFE system via Bluetooth, experience its 3D gaming options, use the screen’s high-power USB type A and C chargers, and use AC sockets at each seat to power their laptops.

Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said: “Emirates is a longstanding and highly valued customer, and a world leader in the passenger experience it creates. We are thrilled to be partnering with them to deliver innovations that will help put their new premium economy in a class of its own.”

Image: From left to right: Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer, Emirates Airline, and Ken Sain, CEO, Panasonic Avionics Corporation

November 17, 2021

Emirates' first retired A380 will be fully repurposed in the UAE in a pioneering initiative with Falcon Aviation Recycling to save most of the aircraft from landfill.

Emirates’ first retired A380 set for new life

By Alexander PrestonFeatured, MRONo Comments

Emirates has signed a contract with UAE-based Falcon Aircraft Recycling on a pioneering initiative, where its first retired A380 aircraft will be upcycled and recycled, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of the deconstruction process and drastically reducing landfill waste.

The extensive materials recovery and repurposing activities will be entirely conducted in the UAE, the airline’s home base, further reducing the project’s environmental footprint.

Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates airline said: “We are delighted to partner with Falcon Aircraft Recycling on this first-of-its-kind project. That all repurposing activity will be fully executed in the UAE also speaks to the strong aviation eco-system and capabilities that the nation has built up in its short history. Through this initiative, our customers and fans can take home a piece of aviation history while saving valuable materials from landfill and contributing to a charitable cause through the Emirates Airline Foundation. It’s an elegant and fitting retirement solution for this iconic aircraft and our flagship.”

Andrew Tonks, Director of Falcon Aircraft Recycling said: “This is our most ambitious project to date which will see the first deconstruction of an A380 outside of Europe. Approximately 190 tonnes of various metals, plastics, carbon fibre composites and other materials will be removed from the aircraft and passed on for recycling or repurposing via our upcycling programme with Wings Craft. The recovery programme will be delivered fully within the UAE and ensure that the majority of the aircraft will find a second life. We are proud to have won this contract which underscores Emirates’ confidence in the world-class capabilities available here in the UAE. Our teams are currently busy with the breakdown and final concepts for the first batch of unique upcycled items. We look forward to unveiling more information on the retail items soon.”

After completing its last commercial mission, A6-EDA, the first A380 ever delivered to Emirates, was retired from service and brought to the airline’s Engineering Centre where Emirates engineers retrieved serviceable components such as engines, landing gears and flight control components. The aircraft was then deregistered and handed over to the Falcon Aircraft Recycling team to begin the process of carefully breaking down the aircraft.

Partnering with Wings Craft, another UAE-based firm that specialises in producing custom furniture and merchandise from aircraft materials, Falcon Aircraft Recycling will design and manufacture unique collectibles and retail items from the materials and parts removed from the aircraft. These items will be launched for sale in phases over the coming months.

A portion of profits from the sale of all items upcycled and recycled from Emirates’ first retired A380 will benefit the Emirates Airline Foundation.

November 2, 2021

Emirates has partnered with streaming service HBO Max to bring premium content onboard its in-flight entertainment system, ice.

Emirates brings exclusive HBO Max premium content onboard

By Alexander PrestonFeatured, IFECNo Comments

Emirates has partnered with streaming service HBO Max to bring premium content onboard its in-flight entertainment system, ice.

Emirates is the first airline in the region to partner with HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s streaming destination for all of its hit movies and shows. HBO Max is currently available only in the US and Latin America. It is set to launch in Europe from 26 October and will be available onboard Emirates from 1 November.

Initially launching with over 160 hours of content from 31 shows, Emirates and HBO Max will gradually expand the content on offer.

Onboard, Emirates’ customers can find and browse the latest HBO Max content in a dedicated folder on ice. Those who prefer to plan their entertainment choices in advance, can browse all ice content on the Emirates’ website, and create a personalised playlist on the Emirates app, which can be synced with the ice system to immediately begin their movie or TV binge the moment they board the aircraft.

October 12, 2021

Emirates Archives - Inflight