Emirates has officially launched A350 operations to London Gatwick, marking a significant expansion of its UK footprint and introducing its Premium Economy cabin to the airport for the first time.
The new daily A350 service, operating as EK069/070, becomes the airline’s fourth daily rotation at Gatwick and elevates Emirates’ total London offering to an unprecedented 87 weekly flights across Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted.
The arrival of the A350 in London represents more than a fleet update—it signals Emirates’ strategic push to enhance connectivity, diversify schedules, and strengthen its position in one of its most important international markets.
With the UK now receiving 146 weekly Emirates flights, including 90 to London alone, the airline is operating at record capacity in the region.
The new service departs Dubai at 17:05, arriving at Gatwick at 20:50, before returning at 23:55 for an 11:00 arrival into Dubai.
The evening departure adds a fresh scheduling option for both corporate and leisure travellers, complementing the existing three daily A380 flights on the route.
Introducing the Emirates A350 to London Gatwick
The A350-900 operating the new service features a three‑class configuration: 32 lie‑flat Business Class seats in a 1‑2‑1 layout, 28 Premium Economy seats, and 238 in Economy Class.
The aircraft also debuts several next‑generation cabin technologies, including wireless charging in Business Class, electric window blinds with Emirates’ Ghaf tree motif, and digital inflight menus accessible via the airline’s ice entertainment system.
Passengers will also experience Emirates’ latest iteration of ice, offering 4K and 4K HDR displays on ultra‑responsive touchscreens, alongside high‑performance Wi‑Fi powered by ViaSat’s Global Xpress network—delivering up to ten times the bandwidth available on previous aircraft.
Emirates on Expanding London Connectivity
Emirates emphasised the strategic importance of the new service, stating:
“The additional frequency marks a significant milestone in Emirates’ UK operations as the airline now operates a record 146 weekly flights to the UK, including 90 to London, offering customers more schedule choices and greater flexibility than ever.”
The airline also highlighted the customer‑focused benefits of the new timing:
“The introduction of an evening departure brings a new and complementary flight option on the Dubai‑Gatwick schedule, to optimise both corporate and leisure travel between the two cities.”
A Growing Global Footprint for the Emirates A350
London becomes the latest in a rapidly expanding list of destinations served by Emirates’ A350 fleet.
The type first entered UK service in January 2025 with the launch of daily A350 flights to Edinburgh, and has since been deployed across a diverse mix of global markets including Montreal, Oslo, Mumbai, Bahrain, Colombo, Baghdad, Hangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, and Tunis.
In 2026, Emirates plans to introduce the A350 to six additional cities: Rome, Copenhagen, Taipei, Phuket, Cape Town, and Helsinki—where the aircraft will operate from the route’s launch in October.
Strengthening a Long‑Standing UK Partnership at London Gatwick
Emirates’ relationship with the UK stretches back to 1987, and the airline now serves the country with one of its most comprehensive international networks.
Its UK operations include 48 weekly A380 flights to Heathrow, three daily A380 flights plus the new A350 service to Gatwick, twice‑daily Stansted flights, and daily services to Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
The introduction of the A350 to London reinforces Emirates’ long‑term commitment to the UK market, combining fleet modernisation with enhanced passenger experience and expanded schedule choice.
As the airline continues to roll out its A350 fleet across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, London’s early inclusion underscores its status as one of Emirates’ most strategically important gateways—both commercially and operationally.
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