Emirates Expands London Gatwick Service with State-of-the-Art A350
The connectivity between the African continent and the United Kingdom via the Middle East has just received a significant boost. For travel consultants across Africa, the route through Dubai is often the preferred choice for clients seeking reliability, comfort, and extensive network reach. Reinforcing this vital corridor, Emirates has officially increased its capacity to the UK capital by deploying its latest aircraft, the Airbus A350, on the popular Dubai to London Gatwick route. This addition is not merely a change in equipment; it represents a strategic enhancement of schedule flexibility that will directly benefit long-haul travellers originating from or destined for African hubs.
This new daily service complements the airline’s existing triple-daily A380 operations at Gatwick, bringing the total number of daily flights to this specific airport to four. With this update, the carrier now operates a staggering 146 weekly flights to the UK, with 90 of those dedicated solely to London. For African trade partners, this density of service is crucial. It minimizes the risk of bottlenecks during peak seasons and offers a wider array of connecting times for clients flying in from Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, or Accra who are transiting through Dubai International Airport.
The specific scheduling of this new flight has been optimized for global connectivity. Flight EK069 departs Dubai at 17:05, arriving in London Gatwick at 20:50. The return leg, flight EK070, is particularly well-timed for connections back to Africa. It departs London Gatwick at 23:55 and lands in Dubai at 11:00 the following morning. This arrival time in the UAE is advantageous, as it aligns seamlessly with the carrier’s afternoon bank of departures to various points in Southern and East Africa, reducing layover stress and allowing for a smoother transit experience.
A major highlight of this deployment is the introduction of the A350-900 aircraft itself. Known for its efficiency and passenger comfort, the A350 brings a modern edge to the route. The aircraft features a three-class configuration that includes 32 lie-flat Business Class seats, 238 Economy Class seats, and, significantly, 28 Premium Economy seats. The arrival of Premium Economy on the A350 to Gatwick is a game-changer. This cabin class has seen surging demand from African travellers who desire more comfort and space than Economy permits but are budget-conscious regarding Business Class fares. Having this inventory available on a modern twin-engine jet expands the options agents can sell to mid-market clients.
The onboard experience on the A350 is designed to combat jet lag, featuring advanced mood lighting, higher cabin humidity, and lower cabin altitude pressure. For business travellers and holidaymakers facing long multi-leg journeys from Africa to England, these physiological benefits are a strong selling point. The Business Class cabin follows a spacious 1-2-1 layout, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger, a standard that high-value corporate clients have come to expect from the Dubai-based carrier.
While the focus is currently on the UK expansion, the deployment of the A350 has direct implications for African aviation in the very near future. The carrier has confirmed that its rollout of the A350 fleet is aggressive and global. Following the launch of Edinburgh in January 2025 and the current expansion to cities like Mumbai and Montreal, the airline has its sights set south. It has been confirmed that Cape Town is scheduled to receive the A350 service starting in October 2026. This is a critical development for South African tourism, promising a refreshed product on one of the continent’s busiest long-haul routes.
The inclusion of Cape Town in the A350 rollout plan underscores the importance of the African market to the airline’s global strategy. It suggests that the carrier is committed to placing its newest, most efficient hardware on routes that serve key African economic and tourism capitals. Until then, the enhanced London Gatwick service serves as an immediate benefit. Gatwick is often favored by leisure travellers and those visiting friends and relatives—a significant demographic for the African market—due to its accessible transport links to southern England and competitive landing fees compared to Heathrow.
As the airline continues to integrate the A350 into its fleet, extending service to diverse destinations such as Bologna, Muscat, and eventually Phuket and Copenhagen later this year, the network becomes increasingly robust. For the African travel trade, the message is clear: the stopover hub in Dubai is becoming more efficient, and the final leg to London now offers more choice, modern cabins, and better seat availability than ever before. Agents are encouraged to review the new schedules and cabin configurations to maximize these opportunities for their UK-bound clientele.
