UAE-Canada travel: Montreal becomes first Americas city to get Emirates A350 with premium economy
New aircraft replaces Boeing 777 on daily service from Dubai
DUBAI – Emirates has introduced its Airbus A350 aircraft on flights between Dubai and Montreal, bringing its latest Premium Economy experience to the Canadian market for the first time.
The move marks a milestone for the airline’s operations in Canada and expands product choice for travellers on the long-haul route. Montréal is now the first destination across Emirates’ 19-point Americas network to be served by the A350.
The aircraft deployment gives passengers access to Emirates’ newest cabin interiors and upgraded onboard technology. It also signals a fleet change on the route, with the A350 replacing the Boeing 777 previously operating the service. The new aircraft operates daily between the two cities under flight numbers EK243 and EK244.
Flight schedule
According to the published timetable, EK243 departs Dubai at 02:45 and arrives in Montreal at 07:35 local time. The return service, EK244, leaves Montréal at 10:40 and lands in Dubai at 08:00 the following day. The timings maintain a daily connection between the UAE and Quebec’s largest city.
Montreal becomes the first in the Americas to showcase Emirates’ newest aircraft type with its latest-generation cabin design. Across the region, Emirates continues to operate Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft on other routes. In Canada, Toronto remains served by daily A380 flights, giving the country two distinct flagship products in service.
Cabin features
The Emirates A350 is designed with higher ceilings and wider aisles, creating a more open and quieter onboard environment. The cabin integrates updated lighting, improved connectivity and the airline’s latest in-flight entertainment platform. Faster Wi-Fi and upgraded screens are available across all classes.
The aircraft is configured in a three-class layout with capacity for 312 passengers. This includes 32 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement, 28 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 238 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. The layout is intended to balance premium demand with high-capacity economy travel on long-haul sectors.
Premium Economy is positioned between Business and Economy Class and is designed to deliver a higher comfort level on longer journeys. The cabin offers spacious reclining leather seats with full leg and foot support, six-way adjustable headrests, built-in charging ports and side cocktail tables. Each passenger has access to a 13.3-inch personal screen and more than 6,500 entertainment channels in 50 languages, including French.
Onboard experience
In Business Class, the A350 features lie-flat leather seats inspired by Mercedes S Class design. Each seat offers a 44-inch pitch and 21-inch width, along with a 20-inch 4K screen for on-demand viewing. Passengers receive Bulgari amenity kits and a curated selection of meals and beverages, including regional dishes as well as vegetarian and vegan options available on request.
Economy Class seats are finished in light blue fabric with bronze-coloured armrests and are designed for improved comfort on long flights. Seat pitch ranges from 31 to 32 inches, with a width of 18.4 inches. Each seat is fitted with a 13.3-inch 4K entertainment screen connected to Emirates’ award-winning system.
Dining across cabins includes a range of international and regional menu options. Premium cabin travellers are offered a broader selection of wines and spirits, while special meals, including vegetarian and vegan choices, are available through pre-order requests.
Beyond the onboard product, Emirates customers travelling through Montreal and Toronto can connect onwards through the airline’s codeshare partnership with Air Canada. The agreement provides access to 37 additional destinations across Canada and the United States, expanding network reach beyond the two main gateways.