‘Premium’ upgrade for Durban’s long-haul travellers from King Shaka Airport

Durban’s long-haul travellers will soon have a new premium cabin option, with Emirates introducing its Premium Economy cabin on daily flights from King Shaka International Airport.

From 1 March 2027, Emirates will deploy its Airbus A350 on its daily Durban-Dubai service, bringing Premium Economy to its third South African gateway after Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The move means all three of Emirates’ South African gateways will offer the premium cabin.

What is changing for Durban passengers?

The new aircraft will introduce Premium Economy on the Durban route, giving passengers an option between Economy and Business Class.

The Premium Economy cabin has a 2-4-2 seating configuration, with cream leather seats offering additional legroom and recline compared with Economy Class.

Passengers will also have access to:

• In-seat charging points
• A wood-finished side cocktail table
• A 13.3-inch personal entertainment screen
• A 35kg check-in baggage allowance
• Up to 10kg of carry-on baggage
• Dedicated check-in
• Priority boarding at King Shaka International Airport

Popular international connections from Durban

Emirates said a significant proportion of travel to and from Durban involves people visiting friends and family internationally.

Passengers travelling through Dubai can connect to destinations including Thailand, Indonesia, India, France and the UK.

Premium Economy was introduced on Emirates’ Cape Town and Johannesburg routes in September 2025.

According to the airline, the cabin has maintained a healthy load factor on both inbound and outbound services over the past year, with demand coming from both leisure and corporate travellers.