Emirates boosts Dubai-Colombo route with A350
Emirates is strengthening its connections between Dubai and Colombo with the introduction of a second daily flight operated by Airbus A350s. Since 8 August, the new aircraft has also been used on the EK648/649 service, replacing the Boeing 777 currently used on the route.
For passengers heading to Sri Lanka, the novelty means more possibilities to travel with Emirates' Premium Economy , a cabin that is increasingly in demand for those looking for more comfort than Economy, without upgrading to Business Class. With the arrival of the A350 on this flight, Emirates is doubling its daily Dubai-Colombo Premium Economy flights .
Flight EK648 will depart Dubai (DXB) at 16:10 daily and arrive in Colombo (CMB) at 22:10. The return, EK649, will take off from Colombo at 02:55 and land in Dubai at 05:50. All times are local.
Emirates currently operates four daily flights to Colombo, with a combination of Airbus A350 and Boeing 777. In addition to the EK648/649 and EK654/655 services, both operated with A350 and Premium Economy cabin, the airline also offers EK650/651 and EK652/653 connections with Boeing 777s. There are three daily direct flights between Colombo and Dubai, plus a daily connection via Malé.
For the Italian market, Colombo is a growing destination. In the last 12 months, Emirates has carried over 20,000 passengers from Italy to Colombo, an increase of more than 15%. Italian travellers often choose Sri Lanka for long stays, on average about 30 days, with peaks in demand in January, between July and September and in December.
The Airbus A350 introduces brighter, quieter and more spacious cabins, with wider aisles, high ceilings and an updated entertainment system, also available in languages such as Tamil and Sinhala. On board there are 4K and 4K HDR touchscreens, faster Wi-Fi and a configuration designed to improve comfort in all classes.
The Emirates A350 Premium Economy is configured 2-3-2 and offers cream leather seats, wood-effect trim, adjustable headrest, 13.3-inch personal screen, 19.5-inch wide seat, 40-inch row spacing and 8-inch recline. The service includes welcome drinks, seasonal menus, wide selection of drinks, courtesy kit, blanket made of sustainable materials and large pillow. On the ground, Premium Economy passengers can enjoy priority boarding, a dedicated check-in area at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and a baggage allowance of up to 35 kg.
