Emirates brings the A350 and Premium Economy to Orlando from Nov. 1
Orlando becomes the first U.S. city with Emirates' A350, which replaces the 777 on the daily Dubai flight. It has 32 Business seats in a 1-2-1 layout and 28 Premium Economy seats.
From Nov. 1, Emirates will fly the Airbus A350 on its daily Dubai–Orlando route. It replaces the Boeing 777 that has flown the route since it launched in 2015. Orlando is the first U.S. airport to get Emirates' A350 on scheduled service, according to the airline's Oct. 1 announcement.
The aircraft and schedule#
The A350 has three cabins: 32 Business seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 28 Premium Economy and 238 Economy. Emirates says the aircraft carries its latest cabin interiors and technology.
- EK219: leaves Dubai at 03:05, arrives Orlando at 10:20
- EK220: leaves Orlando at 20:20, arrives Dubai at 19:10 the next day
All times are local. The flight numbers don't change with the aircraft swap.
What Premium Economy gets you#
Emirates frames the switch as the next step in rolling Premium Economy out to U.S. travelers, and says it reflects growing demand from American passengers for the cabin. Matthew Jones, Emirates' vice president for the USA, said customers on the route "will now be able to fly to Dubai while enjoying the latest in-flight experiences and superior levels of comfort in all three cabin classes."
Per the release, each Premium Economy seat is 19.5 inches wide, with what Emirates calls generous legroom and recline, a six-way adjustable headrest, a footrest, in-seat charging, a wood-finished side table and a 13.3-inch screen running the airline's entertainment system with more than 6,500 channels. Meals start with a welcome drink in glassware and are served on Royal Doulton china with an extended drinks list. Passengers get an amenity kit, a blanket and a larger pillow designed for the cabin.
Two ground perks come with the seat: priority boarding, and a dedicated Premium Economy check-in area at Dubai International. Emirates hasn't said whether Orlando gets a separate check-in desk for the cabin. Emirates says the cabin is available onward from Dubai to more than 90 destinations, including West Asia, the Indian Ocean islands, the Far East and Australasia, so an Orlando passenger connecting to, say, the Maldives can stay in Premium Economy the whole way where the product is fitted.
What changes versus the 777#
Business Class moves to the A350's 1-2-1 layout, which gives every seat direct aisle access. Emirates hasn't published the outgoing 777's Orlando configuration in this release, so we can't say exactly how capacity or the cabin mix changes; the A350 carries 298 passengers across its three cabins. What the release does say is that the A350 brings the airline's latest interiors and Premium Economy to a route that has had the same aircraft type for more than a decade.
Lounges#
The release doesn't mention a lounge in Orlando, and our directory doesn't list an Emirates lounge at MCO. Emirates has used third-party lounges at U.S. stations without its own space, and the airline hasn't said what it will use here. For Priority Pass holders, our best-rated option at Orlando is the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal C, near gate 241, with two showers and a 4.7 rating, though our listing notes Priority Pass visits are capped at two hours and walk-up entry starts at $75. One timing catch: our listing has it open from 07:00 to 21:00, and EK220 leaves at 20:20, so a late arrival at the airport leaves little lounge time.
Terminal C is the newest part of the airport; our directory dates Orlando's last major renovation to September 2022, the same year the Plaza Premium Lounge opened. The directory's other Orlando options are The Club MCO in Airside 4, rated 4.5 with one shower and Priority Pass access, and its Airside 1 sibling at 3.8. Which of these is reachable depends on where Emirates' gate sits, which the release doesn't say.
In Dubai, Business passengers can use Emirates' lounges in Concourses A, B and C, which our directory lists with 20, 30 and 12 showers. First Class passengers on other Emirates flights have the First Class lounges in A and B, but the A350 to Orlando has no First cabin.
The release doesn't say whether Premium Economy includes lounge access, so don't assume it does. Under the Emirates Lounge program as our directory records it, lounge entry comes with a First or Business ticket, or with Skywards Gold or Platinum status in any cabin. A Premium Economy passenger without status would need to pay for access where Emirates sells it, or use a card-based program.
The wider A350 picture#
Emirates has been placing the A350 on medium and long routes as deliveries arrive, and Orlando is its first scheduled U.S. destination for the type. The airline's other recent A350 news includes its new Manchester lounge, which opened in September as the first U.K. site for its new lounge design. Which U.S. city gets the aircraft next hasn't been announced. See all Emirates lounges and all lounges at Dubai.
My take#
Premium Economy is the part I'd price carefully against regular economy and Business. A newer aircraft is appealing, but the cabin, total fare and actual aircraft assigned to the flight matter more than the aircraft name alone.
Related reading#
Cite this article
Patrick Karsh. “Emirates brings the A350 and Premium Economy to Orlando from Nov. 1.” Lounge Frog. Published 2026-10-06. Updated 2026-10-14. https://www.loungefrog.com/news/emirates-a350-orlando-premium-economy
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