Emirates Airline has introduced what it describes as the world’s first electrically powered Premium Economy seat, promising passengers greater privacy, comfort and control throughout their journey.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Nigeria over the weekend. The new seat, which will debut aboard the airline’s newly delivered Airbus A350 aircraft, is designed to change the way passengers experience the space between Economy and Business Class.

“At the heart of the new offering is a full-height electrically operated privacy screen between every seat, allowing travellers to create a more personal space at the touch of a button,” the airline stated.

According to Emirates, for passengers, the change is more than a technological upgrade. It addresses one of the familiar challenges of long-haul travel: trying to rest, work, eat or watch a film while sharing a relatively confined space with strangers.

With the new system, passengers can raise or lower the privacy divider using the seat controls and lock it into their preferred position.

The airline added, “The screen extends to the full height of the seat, giving travellers a greater sense of separation from those seated beside them.

“Emirates has installed just 28 Premium Economy seats in the A350 cabin, arranged in a spacious 2-3-2 configuration. Each seat is 20 inches wide and offers up to 39 inches of pitch, giving passengers additional room to stretch their legs and settle in during longer flights.”

They further explained that the seats also recline into a cradle position, allowing passengers to relax without significantly intruding into the space of the traveller behind them.

“For someone hoping to sleep during an overnight flight, the design could make the difference between simply enduring the journey and actually getting some rest,” the airline stated.

The airline also emphasised the personalised comfort: “Passengers can adjust their seating position electronically through an integrated Passenger Control Unit, with dedicated settings including lounge mode and meal mode.”

Another notable addition is Emirates’ U-Dream headrest, developed by Safran Seats, made with leather and designed to provide additional support around the neck and head. The headrest can be adjusted into several positions to suit individual passengers.

An electrically deployable leather leg rest is targeted at enhancing the experience, particularly for travellers spending several hours in the air.

Additionally, the airline stressed that “Technology has also been brought closer to the passenger. Emirates is introducing wireless charging in Premium Economy for the first time, enabling compatible devices to be charged without the need for cables. Each seat also comes with USB-C charging, while the tray table incorporates a phone holder.”