Emirates is changing the plane on one of its three daily flights between Dubai and Mauritius. From November 1, the EK709 and EK710 rotation will be flown by the airline's Airbus A350 instead of the Boeing 777 that serves it today, according to Emirates' announcement on October 22.
The swap matters most for travelers who want something between economy and business. The A350 carries a 28-seat Premium Economy cabin, and Emirates is putting it front and center in the announcement. That puts Mauritius on a growing list of Emirates routes where the airline's A350 and its middle cabin are on sale.
What is on board
Emirates says its A350 has 298 seats in three classes:
- Business: 32 fully flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, so every seat has direct aisle access.
- Premium Economy: 28 seats, each with a 13.3-inch screen.
- Economy: 238 seats, with what the airline describes as an upgraded entertainment system.
For business travelers, the 1-2-1 layout is the key detail. It means no one in the cabin has to climb over a neighbor to reach the aisle on an overnight flight.
The Premium Economy seats are the other headline. The release does not give a seat pitch or describe the meal service for this cabin. It also does not say what a Premium Economy fare to Mauritius will cost, or whether Emirates plans to add the cabin to the other two daily flights.
The rest of the Mauritius schedule
Emirates flies to Mauritius three times a day. The airline says the other two daily services stay on the Airbus A380. That gives travelers a real choice of aircraft on the same route.
The A350 has no First Class cabin, so travelers hoping for one should look at the A380 flights and check the cabin map when they book. Those who want Premium Economy should look for EK709 out of Dubai and EK710 home.
Flight times were not given in the release. Check the schedule on Emirates' site before booking, since the A350 flight may suit some connections better than others.
How this fits Emirates' A350 rollout
Emirates has been spreading its A350s across its network this year. Lounge Frog has covered recent moves to Nairobi, Orlando and Helsinki. Our Emirates airline page lists 28 A350-900s in the fleet.
The pattern is similar each time. The A350 takes over from a larger jet on a route that suits a mid-size plane. It brings a smaller business cabin with direct aisle access for every seat, plus Premium Economy.
For Mauritius, a leisure island where many travelers fly as couples or families, that middle cabin may prove popular. It offers more space on a flight of several hours without the jump in price to a lie-flat seat.
Where to wait in Dubai
Business Class passengers on the A350 flight can use Emirates' own lounges at Dubai International. The airline runs large Business Class lounges in each Terminal 3 concourse:
- Emirates Business Class Lounge (A)
- Emirates Business Class Lounge (B)
- Emirates Business Class Lounge (C)
Which one is closest depends on your gate, so check the departure board before you settle in. The B lounge has the most showers in our listing, with 30. Our guides to the best lounges at Dubai International and the best Emirates lounges compare them in detail.
The release does not mention lounge access for Premium Economy. Travelers in that cabin who want a lounge should check their fare rules or Emirates Skywards status before they travel.
How to book
Emirates says the A350 flights are on sale now on emirates.com, through travel agents and at its travel store at Docks 2 in Caudan, Port Louis. If you already hold a seat on EK709 or EK710 for November 1 or later, it is worth checking your seat assignment, since the cabin layout is different from the 777's.
