dailynewsnblog
Emirates’ Airbus A380s have many different configurations. The most notable layout, for now at least, is its non-first-class, two-class, 615-seater. This Gulf giant has 15 frames with that capacity. The low-premium layout has 58 seats in business (versus 76 with its other superjumbos) and a whopping 557 seats in economy (compared to 322 to 429 with its other configs).
As you might know by now, a major change is coming. Come November, it is expected that the 615-seater, which is the world’s highest-capacity still-operational passenger equipment, will be gone. By then, all 15 aircraft are due to have three classes and 569 seats.
Goodbye, 615-Seat A380!
The carrier recently announced that it would begin the next phase of its premium economy rollout. This involves retrofitting all 15 615-seat aircraft with this increasingly commonplace cabin. This will be in a 2-4-2 layout, with 40″ pitch. More upmarket food is available compared to normal economy, which is served on Royal Doulton china tableware with stainless steel cutlery. Emirates was a late adopter of premium economy, but is now enthusiastically rolling it out. Its new Airbus A350s have it as standard.
The change does not just involve premium economy. Some 31% more business class seats will be added during the reconfiguration, ensuring commonality with its other A380 layouts. To enable these developments, it will reduce the size of its economy cabin by 22%, with 120 fewer seats. It comes as British Airways reveals its A380 capacity will fall from 469 seats to just 421.
The proportion of business seats in Emirates’ new configuration will rise from just 9% to 13%. When premium economy is included, the number of non-bog-standard main cabin seats will rise from 9% to a substantial 23%. The new 569-seater will still provide a very high-volume offering, but it’ll be chasing higher fares and yields with its new mid-market offering. It’ll still be used in more leisure-driven markets, although it will provide more flexibility than its current 615-seaters.
|
Current Configuration |
New Layout |
|
|---|---|---|
|
First class |
||
|
Business class |
58 |
76 |
|
Premium economy |
56 |
|
|
Economy |
557 |
437 |
|
Total seats |
615 |
569 |
Due To Be Gone By November
The first two frames with the new three-class layout are due to be operational by mid-April, with all 15 aircraft reconfigured by November. Of course, retrofitting aircraft does not always go to plan, but this reflects what is known as of February 17.
When writing, Cirium Diio data shows that the first route to see the brand-new 569-seat A380 will be 
Dubai to Amman. This is Emirates’ third-shortest regularly served A380-operated route, after Jeddah and Mumbai. It is interesting, as Amman no longer regularly sees the 615-seater. Instead, it uses four-class configurations, whether with 468, 484, or 487 seats.
Operating daily, the 569-seater’s debut is due to take place on April 14, although it could be pushed back. For now, at least, this route is only down to see it until May 31. It’ll be on EK903, which will leave the UAE at 2:15 pm and arrive in Jordan at 4:30 pm local time. Returning, EK904 will depart at 6:15 pm and get back at 10:25 pm, in time to feed numerous onward flights across Asia-Pacific.
Emirates Has Ended Airbus A380 Flights On 23 Routes: Full List
One of the routes had over half of the services… discover which it is.
Prague Is Due To Be The 569-Seater’s First Longer Route
At only 2,412 nautical miles (4,467 km), Dubai to Prague is a medium-haul market. Emirates has served it since 2010, initially on the A330-200, but later on the 777-200ER, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777-300ER and the A380. The carrier’s narrowbody-operating sibling, flydubai, has flown to the Czech Republic since 2014. When combined, they continue to have three daily flights.
After a one-off service to Prague on July 1, 2015, the superjumbo’s first regular appearance took place the following May. The 615-seater materialized in December 2024 and has operated daily ever since. However, that configuration’s final departure is down for May 31. From June 1, the brand-new 569-seat layout is due to operate instead. It means Prague will see Emirates’ premium economy cabin for the first time.
