What the new Emirates A350 gets right – and what needs to change ...Middle East

There are many ways to kick off a new year in style. For aviation enthusiasts, flying on an airline’s newest plane is particularly special.

Emirates’ A350-900 is the first all-new aircraft that has been added to the UAE-based airline’s fleet since 2008 – and I joined its inaugural Edinburgh to Dubai flight on Friday 3 January.

Stepping on board, I was taken with the cream, leather upholstery, large windows, high ceilings and spacious cabin. The A350-900 has 259 seats in economy, 21 in premium economy (with a seat pitch – the aviation measure for leg room – one inch wider than on Emirates’ Boeing 777), and 32 lie-flat seats – which transform at the touch of a button – in business class.

My seat was in business. Its features included an adjustable, cushioned headrest, a mini bar (stocked with still and sparkling water, gummy bears and wasabi peas) and a wireless charging plate.

The A350-900’s in-flight entertainment system has a generously sized TV screen. It’s controlled with a tablet and via touch. TV boxsets and recently released films, such as Immaculate and Speak No Evil, helped to fill the seven-and-a-half-hour flight. There were also plenty of audio and gaming options.

I was impressed by the in-flight dining, too. I’m always a little wary of eating seafood at 30,000 feet, but the lobster tail and Ossetra caviar I was served were perfect. There were a variety of starter and main courses on offer, although a vegan passenger I spoke to had pre-ordered 48 hours in advance via the Emirates app.

I was too full from the lobster – and the prawns I ate for my main course – to enjoy any pudding, but there was a blend of Scottish and Middle Eastern dishes on offer, including a cranachan cheesecake topped with raspberry coulis.

I was pleased to be given the option to be woken for breakfast, or left to sleep. In the past, I’ve been shaken awake on a flight, only to be served a meal I wouldn’t have chosen (although, based on my experience of Emirates’ food, I would have enjoyed what was on offer).

As for Wifi, although Emirates has yet to sign up to Starlink – a popular feature on its rival Qatar Airways – the connection on the A350-900 (which uses the ViaSat Global Xpress (GX) satellite network) was solid. I was able to send emails and chat to friends over WhatsApp.

The Edinburgh-Dubai route is an interesting choice.

John Grant, chief analyst at travel data prover OAG, says that he is not convinced the A350-900 will ever appear on Emirates’ London routes.

“Since it has no first-class cabin, and the demand [for first-class] is much stronger [from London], using larger aircraft types make more sense [from there].”

Aviation analytics firm Cirium concurs: “Based on current schedules, there are no flights planned to London on Emirates’ A350-900.”

Nevertheless, Grant expects the plane to be a success for the airline.

“The A350 is a well-established aircraft and in operation all around the world, and it is a well liked among passengers.”

Flights depart Edinburgh at 8.40pm each day and arrive in Dubai at 8.05am local time the following day. The return flight departs Dubai at 2.50 local time, and arrives in Edinburgh at 7.05pm.

What could be improved

There are some aspects of the design that might not be to all everyone’s preference. There were no doors to the business class seats, for example – just small partitions.

Grant says doors “seem a must have for attracting the latest business traveller”.

He suggests that Emirates will opt to install them on the A350 when supply issues are resolved.

However, he believes that’s the only niggle Emirates will face on the aircraft.

I found that it was in the social spaces where the A350-900 falls down a little compared to other Emirates’ planes.

While the A380 has a dedicated area for passengers to mingle and order drinks from the semi-circular bar, the A350’s “social area” leaves a lot to be desired.

It is trestle-table size, with little space around it. To reach the refreshments, you have to lean across the length of the space at the back of the business class section.

And while the martini I ordered, and took back to my seat, was perfectly mixed, I would have liked to have enjoyed it alongside fellow passegners in a communal space.

Another quibble was having one toilet for the 32 business class passengers. I was directed to two others just behind the premium economy curtain.

I’m also not entirely convinced by the business class seat formation, which is 1-2-1, as on other Emirates services.

I was in a single seat, but my seat was on the aisle, rather than against the window, which I would have preferred.

Had I been in a bank of two seats in the middle, I would have felt a little more awkward without doors.

Emirates is known for its on-board service (Photo: Emirates)

The plane offers a comfortable experience throughout. Premium economy passengers have a curtained-off section and, in economy, the seats are improved from other Emirates’ planes, with a wider aisle, higher ceilings and easier to operate in-flight entertainment with a broad selection of films and TV series.

In economy class, passengers were served a tribute to Scotland’s cuisine, including potato champ salad (mashed potato with herbs) with Scottish smoked salmon and cheddar cheese and oat biscuits.

Business class lie-flat seats

As I’m used to flying in economy, I was pleased to be offered a mattress to make my spacious seat even more comfortable.

This helped me to fall asleep for a few hours, despite the fact I usually struggle to do so on flights.

The whole business class section is an elevated experience compared to the A380. While there’s no turning left on the A350, the dedicated cabin is surrounded by mahogany details (alongside the cream uphostery), which gives a more sophisticated air than the grey armrests and swirl-patterned details you’ll find on the A380.

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The A350-900 is here to stay

“There shouldn’t be any pitfalls as it’s a brand new aircraft,” says Grant.

“Emirates are masters at ensuring they have the necessary spares and support processes in place.”

Other airlines have, in recent months, been forced to halt entire routes due to a shortage of parts.

The A350-900 feels like an aircraft of the future. While the aircraft type has been in service for the best part of a decade, the fact that Emirates – which was ranked the “Best Airline in the World” at the Ultras 2024 Awards – has 65 of them on order is telling.

The A350 is the most fuel-efficient large widebody aircraft in service, according to Emirates. The airline also highlights that it has the quietest twin-aisle cabin of any aircraft in service. In practice, this means you’ll only be disturbed by people around you, and not the sound of the engine.

By the end of 2025, passengers will be able to experience the A350-900 on Emirates flights between Dubai and Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Colombo, Lyon, Muscat, and Bologna.

Next year, a slightly more advanced version of this aircraft, the A350-1000, will be delivered to Qantas for its ground-breaking Project Sunrise, which will offer non-stop flights from London to Sydney.

“The principle difference between this aircraft and the A350-1000 is an extra fuel tank that allows longer range services to be operated,” says Grant.

However, the 900 version seems very much here to stay – and a comfortable choice if you’re not concerned with extra privacy on business class seats and spacious social areas.

The look, the space and the lack of engine noise on the Emirates A350-900 puts it among the passenger planes I’ve experienced.

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