Emirates brings A350 and Premium Economy to the Nairobi-Dubai route
The Airbus A350 landed at JKIA on Wednesday on flight EK717 and replaces a Boeing 777 on the morning Dubai services. The 298-seat jet brings Emirates' Premium Economy cabin to Kenya for the first time.
Emirates has put its Airbus A350 on the Nairobi-Dubai route. The jet arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday as flight EK717 from Dubai, People Daily reported. According to Capital FM, it now flies the morning EK717 and EK718 services, replacing a Boeing 777. The airline's two other daily departures will keep using the Boeing 777. The A350 seats 298 passengers in Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy, People Daily reported. It marks the first time Emirates has offered Premium Economy in the Kenyan market. The airline is targeting travellers who connect through Dubai to long-haul destinations in Europe and the United States. Emirates said the A350 has fewer seats than the Boeing 777. But it burns fuel more efficiently and costs less to run per seat. Christophe Leloup, Emirates Country Manager for Kenya, said demand for Premium Economy had grown on long-haul routes beyond Dubai, especially to the US and Europe. He said the airline was already selling a lot of Premium Economy on those routes. Passengers, however, flew the first leg from Nairobi in Economy. Leloup said Premium Economy fares sit roughly halfway between Economy and Business Class. He added that the new aircraft would not bring a…
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