Emirates has just announced plans to operate its newest aircraft type to the Americas for the first time…
In this post:
Emirates’ Dubai to Montreal flight upgraded to A350
As of February 1, 2026, Emirates intends to fly its Airbus A350-900 daily on its flight between Dubai (DXB) and Montreal (YUL). Specifically, the flight operates with the following schedule:
EK243 Dubai to Montreal departing 2:45AM arriving 7:35AM
EK244 Montreal to Dubai departing 10:40AM arriving 8:00AM (+1 day)
The 6,611-mile flight is blocked at 13hr50min westbound and 12hr20min eastbound. This will be the first route in the Americas on which Emirates flies the A350. For what it’s worth, the route is currently operated by the Boeing 777-200LR.
Emirates notes that the launch date of this service could be moved forward, if aircraft are delivered ahead of schedule (and Emirates is usually very good at managing expectations in that regard, so don’t be surprised if that timeline moves forward).
Should passengers care about the Emirates A350?
Historically, Emirates’ fleet has consisted of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777, so the airline is mixing things up by taking delivery of A350s (which may have only happened because of Boeing’s struggles with getting the 777X certified, since Emirates has hundreds of those on order).
Up until now, Emirates has been operating its A350s on short haul flights, as well as on medium haul routes to Asia and Europe. That’s because the initial batch of A350s don’t have any crew rest facilities, which limits the length of flights on which they can be scheduled. However, Emirates has now started to take delivery of A350s with crew rest facilities, enabling long haul service, and Montreal is expected to be among the first destinations. I think Adelaide (ADL) is actually the first route to get one of these planes, as that service launches in December 2025.
For context on the seating layout:
- Emirates’ A350s without crew rest facilities have 312 seats, including 32 business class seats, 21 premium economy seats, and 259 economy seats
- Emirates’ A350s with crew rest facilities will have 298 seats, including 32 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 238 economy seats
As you can see, the upcoming A350s will have more premium economy seats, but will have fewer economy seats. What are the implications of the A350 for passengers?
Well, these planes feature Emirates’ newest business class product, which isn’t necessarily much to get excited about, but is still better than the 777-200LR business class that it replaces. Furthermore, this will be the first time that Emirates offers premium economy on a route to Canada, so that’s a new product that some passengers my appreciate.
Furthermore, the A350 is a generally lovely plane to fly, with a quiet and comfortable cabin, great tech, a tail camera, etc.
Bottom line
Emirates has announced plans to fly the Airbus A350 from Dubai to Montreal as of February 2026, replacing the Boeing 777-200LR. This will be the first route in the Americas to feature the Emirates A350, and on top of that, it’s expected to be among the first long haul A350 routes for the airline. That’s because Emirates is finally taking delivery of long haul A350s, with crew rest facilities.
I’ve been wanting to fly Emirates’ A350, so this is probably the best chance to do so…
What do you make of Emirates flying the A350 to Montreal?
Who cares?
Eskimo, it would appear is talking through his rear end when he claims “Rows 18-39 are actually 16.5 inches, so actually a considerable decrease!”
Neither Emirates website, SeatMaps nor AeroLOPA display rows 17 or 18 on their A350 seat maps. All sites also confirm the economy seat width as being 18”. As it would appear that Eskimo is totally and utterly wrong on this issue, one has to ask what else is the troll wrong...
Eskimo, it would appear is talking through his rear end when he claims “Rows 18-39 are actually 16.5 inches, so actually a considerable decrease!”
Neither Emirates website, SeatMaps nor AeroLOPA display rows 17 or 18 on their A350 seat maps. All sites also confirm the economy seat width as being 18”. As it would appear that Eskimo is totally and utterly wrong on this issue, one has to ask what else is the troll wrong about? Can one really believe anything which is posted under the Eskimo login?
I now have my doubts Eskimo, serious doubts old bean.
Negative, so negative …. and the natives wonder why some of us take pleasure from teasing them over their devotion to the inferior U.S. Airlines. One suspects that few, if any who berate the likes of EK, EY & SQ, etc, have ever set foot abroad any of these carriers, never mind turning left inside any of there regional offerings.
It matters for Y passengers - seat width goes from 17 inches to 18. That’s night and day different.
Yes. For wide-shouldered folks like me, it's an extra one inch buffer to folks beside me, which sounds small, but actually helps a lot.
Mostly false. Rows 18-39 are actually 16.5 inches, so actually a considerable decrease! Though rows 40 onwards are 18 inches.
“Mostly false” Eskimo …. really? Are you sure of your facts now sunshine?
I have checked out both aneroLOP and SeatMaps, both quote economy seat width as 18”. Furthermore, neither feature a row 18!
Have you been hitting the happy juice again and imagined the seat measurements and seat row numbers? One might conclude Eskimo that you are spouting BS yet again, yes?
They're both wrong. AeroLOPA not aernoLOP, buster.
Yep! Auto correct is misbehaving again and I failed to notice.
However Esk, you need to substantiate your claim or look even more like the discredited troll you are proving yourself to be sunshine.
It's incredible how much that premium economy looks lime the business class on some of their 777s...
A350 is nothing special. Far better fuel economics on a flight like DXB-YUL with an A330-900neo!
*citation needed
Eskimo is correct. 2023 ICAO Study on Green Initatives Sec. 7 - transoceanic flight fuel efficiency.
"2023 ICAO Study on Green Initatives Sec. 7 - transoceanic flight fuel efficiency."
And where's this supposed study to be found?
Google is turning up no such thing under that name (even adjusted for the misspelling of "initiatives") nor is ChatGPT. And the only thing I see on the ICAO's site, involving 2023 study on fuel efficiency, is regarding SAF and does not make a comparative value for A330NEOs to anything.
Have a link?
They fly these to INDIA too. One flight there and the whole thing reeks of pissy and poopy seat cushions.
It’s surprising for them to not go with a First Class cabin. Business looks nice (1-2-1 is better than 2-2-2 on older 773).
Limited first class marker out of YUL. Montreal has the fourth lowest GDP of any city over 1.5 million population in North America!
Au contraire; would’ve been excellent opportunities for relatively-cheap First, with one-stop NYC-YUL…
Business class looks kind of outdated.
It's nothing special, that's for sure.
It needs a first class.
I'm very surprised they didn't put at least 1 level of first class on it, seeing how much they previously prided themselves on being able to offer first-to-first connections on almost the entirety of their network.
I guess that wasn't selling.
1 row*
It looks like that its just the first of many more Americas flights to come.
I'm betting this is what they launch Atlanta with.
Wouldn't be surprised to see Detroit as well.
Longer shots being Minneapolis (east African v.f.r.); Denver (giant partner hub, but with altitude limitations); and I would've previously said Vegas, but it's in free-fall currently.
Interesting to see the A350 rolled out to Montreal, but I think the real first longhaul destination is Adelaide next week.
@ Sebastian -- Good catch on ADL service, I'll update the post to reflect that, thanks!
ADL is super nice; new Business Class lounge for QF; wonder what EK will get access to. Great wines. Quick ‘hop’ over to Kangaroo Island *wink*