Emirates New Airbus A350s To Feature World’s 1st Electrically-Powered Premium Economy Seat

Credit: Msadamw23 | Shutterstock Published Sep 3, 2026, 11:46 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Sign in to your Simple Flying account Emirates looks to enhance its Premium Economy cabin even further with the recent announcement that it will launch the first electrically powered seat, which includes a full-height adjustable privacy screen between every seat. The new design is expected to be on newly received Airbus A350-900 aircraft, and adds the latest industry-leading innovation onboard, which provides customers even more premium experiences. The Premium Economy cabin at Emirates is already award-winning and is set out on the A350 in a 2-3-2 configuration. The bespoke cabin has just 28 seats, adding a relaxed and cozy feel. The new innovations and investment by the Middle Eastern carrier continue to raise the bar, and the airline remains the only airline of the big three (Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways) to have the cabin type available. Emirates Premium Economy Electric Privacy Screens Credit: Emirates The airline explained on Thursday that the new electric privacy screens will extend the full height of the seat and are the first of their kind in this cabin type worldwide. Passengers can raise the privacy divider with seat controls before it locks into position, providing a private, personal environment throughout the flight. The new seat makes Emirates the first to offer a powered Premium Economy seat. Emirates Premium Economy passengers enjoy a 20-inch-wide-seat, with a pitch of up to 39 inches on the A350. These seats also recline into a relaxing cradle position that does not intrude on the row behind, making it easier to sit back and relax wherever the airline takes you. Comfort is enhanced through the introduction of the airline's U-Dream headrest by Safran, which is a redesigned leather headrest that provides neck and head support and allows passengers to adjust wings for personalized comfort. Leather footrests are also in place to provide additional relaxation and reduce overall fatigue. Staying Connected Wherever Emirates Takes You Credit: Emirates Additionally, Emirates Premium Economy passengers will see wireless charging for the first time; this will keep compatible devices fully charged throughout the flight, along with convenient USB-C charging outlets and a practical tray table with a phone holder. This will transform your personal device into an easy-to-manage second screen during the flight. The seatback 13.3-inch 4K HDR touchscreen delivers state-of-the-art picture quality, and onboard the new A350s, passengers will see improved camera views with new left and right perspectives of the airplane exterior, a must-watch for takeoff and landing. This latest announcement by Emirates builds on its already award-winning cabin. The airline has invested heavily in every element of the journey to remain an airline of choice in an ever-growing premium travel market, where more passengers are willing to spend a little more for enhanced onboard experiences. What Makes Emirates Premium Economy So Good? Credit: Emirates Beyond the enhancements discussed above, Emirates has developed a generous meal and beverage offering akin to Business Class. Those onboard enjoy gourmet meals that have been designed by highly trained chefs and served on fine china with linen napkins. Meals are curated to pair with select beverages, including Chandon Vintage Brut 2021. This Australian sparkling wine is available exclusively for Emirates Premium only. For long-haul flights, Premium Economy passengers are treated to exclusive reusable amenity kits that are part of a partnership with United for Wildlife, using bio-based materials. These celebrate endangered wildlife across natural habitats, while offering a plant-powered range of skincare products. Emirates Premium Economy announcement sets a new benchmark for the cabin offering, likely the envy of most other carriers. Emirates remains steadfast in delivering products that improve the travel experience, pairing well with its slogan, 'Fly Better'. Emirates already operates more than two dozen A350-900s, with another 45 on order. These are available in two configurations, ultra-long-haul and regional, and fly to select routes throughout the airline's network.