Emirates unveils new A350 aircraft at Paris Air Show 2025

Emirates returns to the Paris Air Show 2025 after more than 15 years, showcasing its latest aircraft, the Airbus A350.

The Paris Air Show 2025 concludes today, 19 June.

Guests will have the opportunity to discover the upgraded cabins in Business and Premium Economy Class, as well as the elegant and spacious Economy Class, which offer a new dimension in comfort and the flying experience.

Sir Tim Clark, Chairman of Emirates Airline, said: “We are delighted to be participating in the Paris Air Show 2025, showcasing the best that air travel has to offer at one of the most important exhibitions in the world. Our return to France’s largest aerospace exhibition demonstrates Emirates’ commitment to supporting the country’s aviation industry — not only through our day-to-day operations, but also through ongoing investment across the industry’s supply chain.”

Emirates serves Paris with 21 flights per week, including three daily A380 flights, as well as one daily A380 flight to Nice and one daily A350 flight to Lyon. Emirates is the first and only international airline to operate an A380 to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.

For more than 30 years, Emirates has played a key role in the development of the French aviation sector, boosting trade and tourism flows. Emirates’ key investments in France over the past three decades include:

Emirates’ A350 and A380 orders have supported thousands of jobs at Airbus, Safran, Thales, and other key players in the French aerospace chain.

Since its inception in 1985, Emirates has invested over €114 billion (US$130 billion) in the purchase of 254 Airbus aircraft, including the A300, A310, A330, A340-300, A340-500, A380, and A350.

Emirates is a key customer of French aerospace manufacturers, supplying Michelin tyres, Safran components and seats, and Thales avionics systems, among others.

In 2023, the company announced contracts with Safran worth more than €1 billion (US$1.14 billion), including an €896 million (US$1 billion) deal for next-generation seats to equip the new Airbus A350 fleet, Boeing 777X-9s, and existing Boeing 777-300ERs.

Emirates has also invested more than €322 million (US$367.5 million) in Thales’ AVANT Up system for its new A350 fleet.

Emirates SkyCargo offers weekly cargo flights between Dubai World Central (DWC), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), and Lyon Saint-Exupery, with the UAE being France’s largest export partner in the Middle East.

Through operating costs such as fuel, overflight fees, in-flight catering, landing and service fees, crew accommodation, staff salaries, advertising, and sponsorships, Emirates directly contributes over €189 million (US$215 million) each year to the French economy.
In addition, France is Emirates’ top source of wine globally, with 58% of the red wine served in First and Business Class coming from Bordeaux.

The Emirates A350 aircraft on display features three spacious cabins: 32 seats in the new generation Business Class that convert into fully flat beds, 21 seats in Premium Economy Class, and 259 comfortable seats in Economy Class with a spacious layout.

Visitors to the Paris Air Show can get a first look at the airline’s new and improved ‘fly better’ experience, which includes more space for passengers and carry-on baggage, higher cabin height, and wider aisles across all seat classes.

The new generation Business Class cabin features a 1-2-1 seating configuration, the award-winning ice entertainment system, improved cabin lighting, faster Wi-Fi, and improved seat ergonomics.

By the end of the year, the Emirates A350 is expected to serve 17 destinations. The airline has already taken delivery of 7 A350 aircraft and expects to add a further 58 in the coming years.