DUBAI, UAE, 4 October 2023: Emirates has recently been crowned the 2024 APEX World Class Airline winner for mastering guest experience and delivering outstanding customer service at the 2024 APEX/IFSA Awards held in Long Beach, California. 

Evaluated through a comprehensive audit of quality of service, safety, and health control initiatives, Emirates is one of just eight airlines globally to achieve this accolade. Emirates also received a 2024 IFSA award for ‘Best Onboard Amenity,’ in recognition of the Emirates Sustainable Economy Class amenity kit – filled with useful amenities to enhance passenger comfort whilst being composed of more sustainable materials designed for reusability.

Recognising Emirates’ commitment to ensuring passengers ‘Fly Better,’ Emirates was awarded the World Class accolade for demonstrating the highest global standards of safety and well-being, sustainability, and service-guest experience. Celebrating a year of record profits, a successful first year of Premium Economy Class, sizeable investments into enhancing onboard services, and notable steps in the journey towards a more sustainable future, Emirates was lauded by the aviation industry for its innovation and commitment to excellence.

APEX CEO Joe Leader commented: “Tonight, we did more than merely acknowledge the prowess and passion of the airline industry, we paid tribute to 2024 APEX World Class trailblazers like Emirates, who have unequivocally etched a golden chapter in the annals of air travel beyond five stars. I had the privilege of spending invaluable moments with President Sir Tim Clark at APEX’s FTE EMEA event in Dublin earlier this year. The insights, the vision, and the sheer audacity of Emirates’ approach to revolutionising the skies carried in every word he shared. Emirates is not just an airline; it’s a symphony of innovation, ambition, and undying commitment to excellence.”

About Emirates Economy Class Amenity Kits

Emirates’ Economy Class range of amenity kits are complimentary for customers on long-haul flights and feature designs that represent the four essential elements of nature – fire, water, earth, and air. The pouches are reusable and made from washable kraft paper with bespoke art printed in non-toxic soy-based ink. The contents include a selection of durable travel essentials made from materials that are more environmentally friendly than single-use plastic. The toothbrush is made from wheat straw and plastic, and the socks and eyeshades are made from recycled plastic, in this case, rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate).

To complement the reusable amenity kits onboard, Emirates has several other initiatives in economy class which focus on using sustainable materials where possible, including cosy blankets made from recycled plastic bottles, where each blanket is made from 28 recycled plastic bottles – an initiative which has prevented over 95 million plastic bottles from going to landfill over the last six years.

Single-use plastic has been reduced with the introduction of wooden tea and coffee stirrers onboard. At the same time, paper straws and inflight retail bags are made using wood and paper from responsibly managed forests. For Emirates’ youngest customers, the airline’s complimentary toy bags, baby amenity kits and plush toys are also made from recycled plastic bottles and other sustainable materials. Emirates also recycles plastic and glass onboard when flights land in Dubai, diverting thousands of kilograms of glass and plastic away from landfill each year.

About the APEX World Class Awards

APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association), the largest international airline association dedicated to passengers and advancing their experience, is the official rating body that issues the new WORLD CLASS award and accreditation.

Dubai, UAE, 28 September 2023: Emirates confirms that its highly sought-after Premium Economy offering will be introduced on flights to two more destinations in its network, São Paolo, from 19 November and Tokyo Narita from 20 December. 

Sao Paolo will become the airline’s fifth point in its North and South American network, where flights will operate with the new cabin class. Tokyo Narita will become the second gateway in the Emirates’ Far East network, which offers its latest cabin product, featuring extra legroom, premium features and amenities.

As the airline’s retrofit programme picks up pace and the product extends to more routes on its network, São Paolo will become the 13th city where Emirates will operate its newly retrofitted flagship A380 aircraft. At the same time, the number of points offering Premium Economy will grow to 14 with the addition of Tokyo Narita. Besides featuring the new Premium Economy seats, the enhanced aircraft that will operate on the routes also boast refreshed interiors that provide an elevated experience throughout the other cabins with a new look and feel.

Seats can be booked immediately via emirates.com, Emirates sales offices and travel agencies.

From 19 November, travellers flying between Dubai and São Paolo can book Emirates’ Premium Economy seats on EK261/262, which will be available three times weekly, scaling up to daily flights in December. Premium Economy on flights EK318/319, to and from Tokyo Narita, will launch as a daily offering from 20 December.

The aircraft to be deployed on the routes in a four-class configuration feature 56 seats in Premium Economy, located at the front of the main deck and laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration, in addition to 338 seats in Economy Class, 76 in Business Class and 14 First Class suites.

São Paolo is one of the latest destinations operated by the enhanced A380 aircraft in a four-class configuration and marks the entry of Premium Economy in Emirates’ Latin American network. Tokyo Narita is the airline’s first gateway in Japan, where Premium Economy will be available and follows the product’s debut in Singapore in July.

The Premium Economy offering has proven to be immensely popular on the ten routes where the product has already been launched. With travel demand soaring across its expansive network, it is expected to appeal to those seeking a premium travel experience at an attractive price point. Since Premium Economy was introduced to Emirates’ offering one year ago, more than 160,000 customers have traded up from Economy Class, choosing to try the elevated experience it provides.

Emirates flies its A380s with Premium Economy seats to London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Houston and San Francisco. Premium Economy will debut on Emirates flights to Mumbai and Bengaluru from 29 October.

Premium Economy is popular amongst leisure and business travellers, solo travellers, families and more opting to upgrade their travel experience. Passengers in Premium Economy can expect to enjoy many features, including luxurious seats, more legroom, premium dining and beverages, amongst other perks and thoughtful added-value features. 

On the retrofitted aircraft, the refreshed interiors sport Emirates’ signature ghaf tree motif and other aesthetic enhancements, beautiful designs and new colour palettes, evident throughout the aircraft.

Emirates operates daily flights between São Paulo and Dubai, connecting passengers to more than 130 destinations worldwide. Emirates’ Brazilian operations also include a Boeing 777 service between Dubai and Rio de Janeiro, which connects travellers to Buenos Aires. Emirates also serves its customers in Japan through its three gateways, with daily flights to Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai. 

For more information on Emirates’ current operations, network, and travel support, visit www.emirates.com.