Emirates To Improve the Onboard Experience [Menu, Cabin]

Emirates, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, is introducing several new positive enhancements for the passenger experience. While many airlines look to cut services in response to COVID-19 and a potential looming recession, Emirates hopes to actually make things better for passengers.

Meal Service Enhancements

New Menus

New menus are coming to economy class, business class, and first class starting September 1, 2022. The biggest enhancements will come in first class, where you’ll see dishes such as pan-fried salmon trout with moqueca sauce and creole rice, roasted duck breast with orange thyme jus, steamed broccolini, and fondant potatoes, per the press release from Emirates.

Vegan Dishes

Emirates is introducing vegan dishes in all cabins. You can try one of these new dishes on your next flight:

• Pan-roasted king oyster mushrooms, flavoursome jackfruit biryani, and sliced kohlrabi garnished with burnt orange
• Chocolate truffle cake with hazelnut, pistachio, and gold leaf
• Green grape tart adorned with candied rose petals, vanilla custard, and berry compote glistening with yuzu pearls

Unlimited Caviar

For those who enjoy a healthy serving of the salty decadent snack, Emirates will now be offering unlimited portions of caviar to first class passengers. Previously, there was a limit on what was served. You’ll be able to enjoy your caviar with Dom Perignon Champagne.

Hot Tip: Emirates Skywards is a Chase transfer partner, Amex transfer partner, Citi transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, and a Marriott transfer partner.

Movie Snacks

As Emirates flights are usually very long, having a selection of snacks throughout the flight is important, and inevitably you’ll likely be enjoying a movie or 2 while onboard. Emirates is introducing movie snacks for first class passengers, including lobster rolls, burger sliders, edamame, and salted popcorn.

Sustainable Food

Emirates will be focusing more on offering sustainable, local produce, starting with greens from Bustanica, a vertical farm. These efforts will be targeted to flights departing from Dubai, the airline’s hub.

New Cabin Interiors

Emirates is refurbishing cabin interiors on 120 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft — this includes things like reupholstering seats, changing out cabin walls, new carpeting, and other visible changes. Over the next few years, as aircraft go through the changes, you’ll step on board and feel like you’re on a brand new aircraft. This refurbishment also includes adding a premium economy cabin on most aircraft, offering a different level of service for those that want something a little more than economy class, but cheaper than business class.

The goal is to retrofit 4 aircraft each month across 2 years, starting with the A380s, through April 2025. In addition to nearly 4,000 new premium economy seats, 728 first class suites will be refurbished and over 5,000 business class seats will be upgraded to a new style and design.

Final Thoughts

With Emirates latest announcements for improved service elements onboard, there’s lots of exciting enhancements coming. Usually airlines try to find ways to cut corners, but it seems like Emirates is really trying to capture premium customers who are willing to pay for a better hard and soft product onboard.