Strategic Milestone: Emirates A350 Debuts in Bologna, Enhancing Global Connectivity
Emirates has officially marked the arrival of its new-generation Airbus A350 at Bologna’s Guglielmo Marconi Airport. The inaugural flight, held on 21 June, was welcomed with a traditional Water Cannon Salute. An official ceremony followed, attended by local authorities, media, and Emirates leadership.
Bologna becomes the first Italian city – and one of the first ten worldwide – to receive the Emirates A350, reflecting the airline’s focus on strengthening ties between Emilia-Romagna and Dubai. Emirates selected Bologna due to its strategic location and efficient infrastructure, with the airport serving a broader region that includes Modena, Parma, Ferrara, and Rimini.
Emirates and Bologna Airport have shared a partnership since 2015, with notable milestones including reaching 10 million passengers last year and one million Emirates passengers two years ago. The introduction of the A350 marks a new phase in this collaboration.
“Our partnership with Bologna has grown steadily over the years,” said Flavio Ghiringhelli, Emirates Country Manager in Italy.
“The A350 brings added capacity and product enhancements, which we believe will support increased connectivity and economic activity in the region.”
Emirates is currently the only airline offering a direct connection between Bologna and Dubai, its international hub linking five continents and over 150 destinations.
Nazareno Ventola, CEO of Bologna Airport, commented: “We are pleased to be the first Italian airport to operate the Emirates A350. This move reflects the trust and results achieved over our decade-long cooperation and will help further develop the region’s global reach.”
Air Cargo: Supporting Regional Export Growth
Beyond passenger travel, Emirates supports regional exports through its cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo. The service facilitates the export of high-value goods from Bologna to markets across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. This includes medical supplies, industrial parts, and luxury vehicles, all of which leverage Dubai’s logistics infrastructure.
Introducing Premium Economy on the A350
The A350 is the first new aircraft type added to the Emirates fleet in over 15 years and introduces Premium Economy on the Bologna–Dubai route. The aircraft features a three-class layout with 312 seats: 32 in Business, 21 in Premium Economy, and 259 in Economy. Premium Economy aims to meet growing demand for greater comfort and space while remaining accessible.
Each seat includes wider dimensions, expanded legroom, personal power outlets, and a side table. The service consists of regional meals, beverage options such as Chandon Vintage Brut 2016, amenity kits, and access to Emirates’ ice entertainment system, featuring over 6,500 channels in more than 40 languages.
Emirates is rolling out Premium Economy across its A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft through a $5 billion cabin retrofit, now available on over 60 global routes. Milan Malpensa is the second Italian airport offering this class.
Emirates in Italy: Four Gateways, Daily Service
Emirates operates from four cities in Italy: Bologna, Milan, Rome, and Venice. From Bologna, flight EK094 departs daily for Dubai at 14:40, arriving at 23:30, while EK093 departs Dubai at 09:20 and arrives in Bologna at 14:40 (local times).
In total, Emirates operates 49 weekly flights from Italy to Dubai, in addition to daily Milan–New York services, offering connectivity to global destinations for both leisure and business travellers.
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