Emirates will begin operating its newest aircraft, the Airbus A350, on the Dubai-Nairobi route
Nairobi becomes the 32nd destination on the Emirates A350 network, with Premium Economy making its Kenya debut on the Dubai route.
By Joan Wanjiku
Emirates will begin operating its newest aircraft, the Airbus A350, on the Dubai-Nairobi route from October 25, bringing a new generation of cabin experience to Kenyan travellers and introducing Premium Economy class to the country for the first time.
Nairobi becomes the 32nd destination worldwide to be served by the A350, which will operate on flights EK717 and EK718. The aircraft carries 298 passengers across three cabins — Business, Premium Economy and Economy — and is characterised by wider, brighter interiors, improved connectivity and upgraded in-flight entertainment.
The most significant addition for Kenyan travellers is the Premium Economy cabin, which makes its debut on the route. The cabin features leather reclining seats with a generous pitch, adjustable headrests, additional legroom, in-seat charging points, a wood-finished side cocktail table and a 13.3-inch screen. Passengers on the Dubai-Nairobi route will also receive complimentary amenity kits and access to Chandon Vintage Brut 2017, a sparkling wine exclusive to Emirates.
Business Class on the A350 is configured in a 1-2-1 layout, giving every passenger direct aisle access and a fully lie-flat seat finished in soft cream leather. Each seat includes a personal minibar and wireless charging. A self-service snack display at the rear of the cabin allows passengers to help themselves to refreshments throughout the flight.
Economy Class has been refreshed with a new colour palette of sky blue, bronze and cream, complemented by lighter wood finishings. Seats feature the airline’s upgraded ice entertainment system on a 13.3-inch 4K adjustable touchscreen, with leather headrests and increased seat pitch.
Emirates Country Manager in Kenya Christophe Leloup said the aircraft’s arrival marked a new chapter for the airline in the market. “We’re delighted to bring our latest aircraft and onboard experience to our customers, with more comfort, choice and thoughtful touches in every cabin,” Leloup said. “The A350 gives customers travelling on the Dubai-Nairobi route something new to discover, while building on the experience they know and love from Emirates.”
The A350 deployment follows a run of upgrades to Emirates’ Kenya operations. The airline introduced a third daily flight between Dubai and Nairobi in July, bringing its total to 21 flights per week and offering travellers greater connectivity to destinations across Europe and the United States via Dubai.
Nairobi is also home to Africa’s first Emirates World store, which opened in 2024, offering a more immersive booking and product experience. Earlier this year, Emirates introduced a split-payment solution in partnership with Cellulant, allowing travellers to combine multiple payment methods across 24-hour instalments when purchasing tickets.
Tickets for flights from October 25 are available now on Emirates.com, the Emirates app, through travel agents and at the Emirates World store in Nairobi. All tickets booked after August 10, 2026, include unlimited complimentary date changes to Dubai and one complimentary date change to any other destination, along with reduced refund fees across all cabin classes.
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