Emirates (EK) will fly its flagship Airbus A380 to Delhi (DEL) starting 25 October, making the Indian capital the third city in the country to receive the double-decker after Mumbai (BOM) and Bengaluru (BLR). The aircraft will operate as flights EK512/513 in a four-class layout, joining the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 777s already serving the route.
The launch is part of a wider push into the Indian market. Alongside the new A380 service, Emirates will extend its Premium Economy cabin to every flight between Dubai (DXB) and Delhi, and it will upgrade its Kolkata (CCU) route to the Airbus A350, an aircraft type that is deployed on the longest routes in the world. Together, the moves bring Emirates’ newest cabin products to nearly half of its weekly flights to and from India.
Every Delhi-Dubai Flight Gets Premium Economy
With the A380 in place, all four of Emirates’ daily services between Delhi and Dubai will offer a full four-class cabin: First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Premium Economy will be available on the A380-operated EK513, as well as on the Boeing 777-operated EK511, EK515 and EK517.
The cabin features cream leather seats with extra legroom and recline, meals served on chinaware, and an expanded amenities kit — a noticeable step up for travelers who don’t need a full Business Class fare but want more than standard Economy.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said the Delhi launch reflects the airline’s long-term commitment to India. He noted that Delhi now joins Mumbai and Bengaluru as the country’s third A380 destination, a decision driven by sustained demand for travel to and from India. Kazim added that Premium Economy now covers six Indian gateways, representing close to half of Emirates’ weekly flights in the country, with further upgrades still to come.
Kolkata Moves Up to the A350
Kolkata is getting its own upgrade. From 25 October, Emirates will swap the Boeing 777 currently flying EK570/571 to Dubai for its next-generation Airbus A350, bringing the airline’s newest cabin interiors — including Premium Economy — to the route for the first time.
The existing EK572/573 service will continue running five times a week on a four-class retrofitted Boeing 777. Between the two flights, Premium Economy will be available on all 12 weekly frequencies connecting Kolkata and Dubai.
Premium Economy Reaches Six Indian Cities
By the end of October, travelers will be able to book Premium Economy from six gateways across India, spread across a mixed fleet of A380s, A350s and four-class Boeing 777s:
- Delhi – 4 daily flights
- Mumbai – 22 weekly flights
- Bengaluru – 7 weekly flights
- Kolkata – 12 weekly flights
- Ahmedabad (AMD) – 9 weekly flights
- Kochi (COK) – 2 weekly flights
Enhanced Service on the Ground and in the Air
Emirates has also been investing in its ground presence in India, opening retail travel stores in Delhi and Mumbai staffed by trained personnel who offer personalized booking support. Stores in Hyderabad (HYD) and Bengaluru are set to follow, along with a dedicated call centre in Mumbai.
Onboard, passengers flying from any of Emirates’ nine Indian gateways can expect regionally inspired menus designed by award-winning chefs, along with cabin crew who speak Hindi and other regional languages. The inflight entertainment system rounds out the experience with more than 6,500 channels, including Bollywood titles in Hindi and content in Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Kannada and other Indian languages.
Emirates’ Network Across India
Emirates now serves nine gateways across India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai (MAA), Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Across those cities, the airline operates 167 weekly flights to Dubai, connecting onward to a global network of nearly 140 destinations.