Flying to Dubai? Emirates is bringing its iconic A380 and Premium Economy to more Indian cities

Emirates is strengthening its premium offering in India with the introduction of its flagship Airbus A380 on the Delhi-Dubai route and the expansion of its highly popular Premium Economy cabin to six Indian cities from October 25, 2026. The move marks another milestone in the airline's long-term commitment to the Indian market, combining luxury travel, greater passenger choice and enhanced connectivity for Indian travellers.

The latest expansion means passengers flying from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Kochi will have access to Emirates' Premium Economy product, while Delhi will become the airline's third Indian destination to welcome the iconic double-decker Airbus A380 after Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Delhi joins Emirates' exclusive A380 network

Beginning October 25, Emirates will deploy its Airbus A380 on flights EK512 and EK513 between Dubai and Delhi. The aircraft will operate in a four-class configuration, offering First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class.

The introduction of the A380 complements Emirates' existing retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft already serving Delhi. With this upgrade, all four daily Emirates flights between Delhi and Dubai will feature four cabin classes, ensuring passengers have access to the airline's newest onboard products regardless of the flight they choose.

The A380 has become synonymous with luxury travel, offering spacious cabins, quieter interiors and award-winning onboard services. For many travellers, the aircraft itself has become part of the travel experience, making the Delhi route especially attractive for both leisure and business passengers.

Premium Economy now available on every Delhi flight

One of the biggest highlights of the expansion is the complete rollout of Emirates' Premium Economy cabin on all Delhi services. Passengers flying on the A380-operated EK513, as well as Boeing 777-operated flights EK511, EK515 and EK517, will now be able to choose Premium Economy for a more comfortable journey.

Designed to bridge the gap between Economy and Business Class, Emirates' Premium Economy offers wider cream leather seats with generous legroom and deeper recline, along with upgraded dining served on premium chinaware, carefully curated amenities and an overall elevated onboard experience.

For Indian travellers looking for extra comfort on long-haul journeys without paying Business Class fares, the product offers an attractive middle ground.

Kolkata gets Emirates' new Airbus A350

Emirates is also upgrading its Kolkata operations by introducing its next-generation Airbus A350 on the daily EK570 and EK571 services from October 25. The A350 will replace the existing Boeing 777 on the route and will feature the airline's latest cabin interiors, including Premium Economy. In addition, Emirates' five-times-weekly EK572 and EK573 flights, operated by retrofitted four-class Boeing 777 aircraft, will also continue offering Premium Economy.

This means passengers travelling between Kolkata and Dubai will enjoy Premium Economy availability across all 12 weekly Emirates flights on the route.

Premium Economy expands across six Indian gateways

By the end of October, Emirates will offer Premium Economy from six Indian cities, significantly expanding access to its newest cabin product.

The airline will operate:

•Four daily Premium Economy services from Delhi

•Twenty-two weekly services from Mumbai

•Twelve weekly services from Kolkata

•Nine weekly services from Ahmedabad

•Seven weekly services from Bengaluru

•Two weekly services from Kochi

The expansion reflects growing demand among Indian travellers for greater comfort on medium and long-haul flights while maintaining competitive pricing.

Luxury beyond the aircraft

Emirates is also investing beyond the inflight experience to make travel smoother for Indian customers. The airline has recently opened dedicated Emirates Travel Stores in Delhi and Mumbai, allowing customers to explore products, receive personalised travel advice and complete bookings with assistance from trained travel consultants.

New retail stores are planned for Hyderabad and Bengaluru, while a dedicated customer service call centre will also be established in Mumbai.

These initiatives form part of Emirates' wider strategy to strengthen customer engagement and improve service accessibility across India.

Recognising India as one of its most important international markets, Emirates continues to customise its services for Indian passengers. Travellers can enjoy regionally inspired meals created by award-winning chefs, with menus reflecting the rich diversity of Indian cuisine while catering to different dietary preferences. Cabin crew on Indian routes include Hindi speakers as well as crew fluent in several regional Indian languages, helping passengers feel more at home throughout their journey.

The airline's inflight entertainment system also offers more than 6,500 channels, including a wide selection of Bollywood films and content in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Kannada and other Indian languages.

Commenting on the expansion, Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the airline's latest investments demonstrate its long-standing commitment to India. "Emirates' long-standing commitment to India is reflected in the continued rollout of our latest products, designed to enhance the travel experience. We are pleased to introduce our highly anticipated A380 services to Delhi, a vital gateway in our network, from October."

He added that the airline is proud to expand its A380 operations in India with Delhi joining Mumbai and Bengaluru as the third destination served by the aircraft.

"Given the strong demand for travel to and from India, it is an honour to expand our A380 footprint in the country. We would like to thank the authorities for making this possible and value our continued partnership."

Highlighting the broader Premium Economy rollout, Kazim said: "We are also making our Premium Economy product more widely available across India to reach six gateways and close to half of our scheduled weekly flights. A host of other service enhancements are in the pipeline as a testament to our partnership with India and commitment to our customers."

Decades of partnership

Emirates currently serves nine Indian cities, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram with 167 weekly flights connecting passengers to Dubai and onward to nearly 140 destinations worldwide.

The latest fleet upgrades and service enhancements reinforce India's importance within Emirates' global network. Beyond adding premium cabins and introducing next-generation aircraft, the airline is positioning itself to meet the evolving expectations of Indian travellers, who are increasingly seeking a blend of luxury, comfort, convenience and seamless international connectivity.

With the arrival of the A380 in Delhi and the wider rollout of Premium Economy, Emirates is not just adding capacity, it is reshaping the premium travel experience for Indian passengers, offering more opportunities to enjoy world-class comfort from the moment they board.