Emirates has completed the first retrofit of its high-density, two-class Airbus A380, converting the aircraft to a three-class layout that introduces a Premium Economy cabin. The Dubai-based carrier said the first upgraded jet will enter service on 14 April 2026, initially operating the Dubai–Amman route as EK903/904 through 31 May before being reassigned to Dubai–Prague as EK139/140 from 1 June.
The reconfigured A380 now features 76 Business Class seats, 56 Premium Economy seats and 437 Economy Class seats, for a total of 569. Compared with the airline’s previous 615-seat, two-class configuration, the update reduces overall capacity by around 8% while adding a new cabin aimed at long-haul leisure travelers. Business Class capacity rises by 18 seats, Premium Economy appears where First Class would typically be located on other A380s, and Economy capacity is reduced by 120 seats.
This aircraft is the first of 15 two-class A380s that Emirates plans to convert to the new three-class layout by November 2026, as part of its multibillion-dollar widebody retrofit program to roll out Premium Economy across its long-haul fleet and standardize cabin products.