Emirates Unveils World First Electric Premium Economy Seat with Full-Height Privacy Screen

Emirates has announced a further enhancement to its is elevating its award-winning Premium Economy experience - with the launch of the world’s first electrically powered Premium Economy seat, featuring a full-height adjustable privacy screen between every seat.

The new seat will debut on newly received Airbus A350 aircraft and combines industry-leading innovation with elevated comfort, giving customers greater control over their personal space.

The latest innovation builds on Emirates’ continued investment in the Premium Economy experience available to Irish travellers. In July 2025, Emirates became the only airline operating from Ireland to offer a four-class service, with the introduction of Premium Economy on the Dublin-Dubai route aboard its retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft.

Since its launch from Dublin, Premium Economy has offered Irish customers an enhanced travel experience between Economy and Business Class, combining spacious seating, refined dining and elevated onboard service.

Installed in the Emirates A350 Premium Economy cabin in a spacious 2-3-2 configuration with just 28 seats, the new seat represents the airline's latest investment in continually raising the bar for customer experience. The electric privacy divider extends to the full height of the seat – the first feature of its kind in Premium Economy cabins worldwide.

Emirates Premium Economy seats are a comfortable 20 inches wide, with seat pitch of up to 39 inches on the A350. Seats also recline into a cradle position without intruding on the row behind, allowing customers to comfortably sleep and relax inflight.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Customers can effortlessly raise or lower the divider using the seat controls and lock it into position, creating a more private and personal environment for relaxing, dining or working throughout the flight.

The new seat marks Emirates' first fully electrically powered Premium Economy seat, allowing customers to adjust their preferred seating position at the touch of a button using the integrated Passenger Control Unit, with dedicated settings including lounge mode and meal mode.

ERGONOMIC COMFORTS IN PREMIUM ECONOMY

Comfort has been further enhanced with the introduction of Emirates' widely acclaimed U-Dream headrest by Safran Seats. Crafted in leather, the redesigned headrest provides exceptional neck and head support, allowing passengers to adjust the wings into multiple positions for personalised comfort.

A manually deployable leather footrest offers additional relaxation and helps reduce leg fatigue.

ALWAYS-ON POWER FOR CUSTOMER DEVICES

Wireless charging is also being introduced to Premium Economy for the first time, allowing customers to conveniently power compatible devices throughout the flight.

Every seat also includes USB-C charging and a practical tray table with an integrated phone holder, transforming personal devices into a convenient second screen during meals or entertainment.

HIGH-DEFINITION INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT AND NEW AIRCRAFT CAMERAS

Customers can also enjoy Emirates' award-winning ice inflight entertainment on a 13.3-inch 4K HDR touchscreen, delivering high-definition picture quality with ultra-responsive navigation.

On newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft, passengers will also enjoy enhanced aircraft camera views, with new left and right exterior perspectives joining the existing forward and downward cameras to provide an even more immersive inflight experience.

GENEROUS MEALS AND BEVERAGES IN PREMIUM ECONOMY

The new seat builds on Emirates' award-winning Premium Economy experience, where every element has been carefully designed to deliver an elevated journey from take-off to landing.

Akin to a Business Class experience, customers enjoy gourmet, regionally inspired menus prepared by Emirates' chefs and served on Royal Doulton fine china with linen napkins and stainless-steel Robert Welch cutlery.

Meals are accompanied by a carefully curated selection of premium beverages, including Chandon Vintage Brut 2021, an exceptional Australian sparkling wine available exclusively to Emirates Premium Economy customers worldwide.

In Premium Economy, Emirates customers are also treated to a selection of acclaimed wines.

From September, customers travelling on select routes may savour Chablis Premier Cru Jean-Marc Brocard 2024, which showcases the purity and mineral precision of one of Burgundy's most celebrated Chardonnay producers, or La Parde de Haut-Bailly 2014, which offers the refined elegance of one of Bordeaux's most respected Pessac-Léognan estates.

October will also mark a first for Emirates, as Wiston Estate Brut NV becomes the airline’s first English sparkling wine, served exclusively in Premium Economy on UK routes.

Together, these additions reflect Emirates' continued investment in offering customers an exceptional wine programme, supported by more than US$1 billion invested in the airline's wine portfolio since 2006.

THOUGHTFUL AMENITY KITS WITH COMPLIMENTARY SKINCARE

On long-haul flights, Premium Economy customers also receive exclusive reusable amenity kits designed in partnership with United for Wildlife.

Crafted using bio-based materials including cactus leather alternatives, the collectible bags celebrate endangered wildlife across four natural habitats while introducing premium plant-powered skincare products from Aveda for the first time in Premium Economy.

Each kit also includes travel essentials such as socks, eyeshades, earplugs and a dental kit, with sustainable materials incorporated throughout the collection.

A PREMIUM ECONOMY EXPERIENCE FOR IRISH TRAVELLERS

The introduction of Premium Economy on the Dublin-Dubai route in 2025 marked a significant milestone for Emirates in Ireland, making the airline the only carrier operating from Ireland to offer customers a four-class service.

The introduction also formed part of Emirates' extensive fleet retrofit programme and brought a new level of comfort and choice to Irish travellers flying from Dublin.

Emirates’ connection with Ireland can also be found throughout the onboard experience. The airline has incorporated Irish-made products across its service offering, including carpets and upholstery supplied by Dublin-based Botany Weaving, while Irish brands including Keogh's Crisps, Baileys and Voya also feature onboard.

Since launching Premium Economy in 2022, Emirates has continued to expand the cabin across its growing fleet, with the product now available across all markets currently served with A350 aircraft.

Inspired by the airline's signature Business Class experience, Emirates Premium Economy has set a new benchmark for the category, offering a level of comfort, privacy and refinement that rivals the Business Class cabins of many airlines.

The cabin combines spacious seating, generous legroom, refined dining and world-class entertainment to deliver a distinctive travel experience that has earned multiple international awards, including ‘Best Premium Economy Class’ at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards in 2024 and 2025, and ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’ at the 2025 ULTRAs Awards.