Emirates has announced a major expansion of its London services, introducing a fourth daily flight between Dubai and London Gatwick (LGW) starting February 8, 2026. The new service, EK069/070, will be operated by the airline’s latest Airbus A350 aircraft, showcasing next-generation interiors that include lie-flat Business Class, Premium Economy, and advanced technology features. This addition complements Emirates’ existing UK footprint and strengthens its presence in the United Kingdom, delivering greater choices and scheduling flexibility for travelers.
Flight expansion and schedule details
Emirates’ upcoming LGW service marks a significant expansion in the carrier’s London corridor, reflecting a strategic push to increase capacity and offer more options for passengers traveling between the UAE and the UK. With this fourth daily rotation, Emirates will operate 12 daily flights to London across three airports—Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stansted—forming a robust and flexible network that aligns with passenger demand and business travel patterns. This enhanced frequency is designed to reduce wait times, improve connection opportunities, and provide loyal customers with reliable, predictable service across multiple gateways in the London metropolitan area.
Flight EK069 is scheduled to depart Dubai at 17:05 local time and arrive at London Gatwick at 20:50 local time, providing an efficient late-afternoon arrival that fits well with onward connections or early-evening activities in the Gatwick area. The return service, EK070, leaves London Gatwick at 23:55 and arrives in Dubai at 11:00 the following day, offering a convenient overnight return that aligns with business schedules and allows travelers to maximize their time on the ground in both destinations. This pairing emphasizes Emirates’ commitment to symmetry in scheduling, balancing outbound and inbound options to optimize passenger convenience.
The new LGW service is designed to be the last Emirates flight of the day on the Dubai-to-London leg, a placement that appeals to travelers seeking maximum flexibility. For passengers flying into Dubai, the early-morning arrival creates opportunities to check into hotels, begin business or leisure activities, and take advantage of the city’s early-start pace. Conversely, the late-evening departure from Dubai gives travelers time to complete meetings, engage in shopping, or enjoy the city before boarding EK069 to London. This arrangement underscores Emirates’ focus on practical, traveler-centric scheduling that supports both business and leisure itineraries.
The inaugural EK069/070 service to Gatwick will be operated by an Airbus A350-900 configured in three classes. The three-class cabin layout features 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 28 Premium Economy seats, and 238 Economy Class seats. This configuration is designed to balance comfort, privacy, and capacity, delivering a premium travel experience across all cabins while maintaining strong seat counts to meet demand. The aircraft’s design also supports a broad range of passenger needs, from long-haul comfort to efficient throughput for busy airports and busy travel periods.
In terms of onboard technology and passenger experience, the A350-900 deployed on this route integrates wireless charging in the Business Class cabin, a digital inflight menu system, and electric window blinds. The premium cabins feature the Ghaf tree motif, a nod to Emirates’ branding and regional heritage, while the airline’s renowned inflight entertainment system continues to offer an extensive selection of content to suit diverse passenger preferences. These features collectively elevate the travel experience on Emirates’ Dubai-to-London Gatwick service, reinforcing the airline’s reputation for innovation and service quality on long-haul routes.
Cabin features and in-flight experience
The Emirates A350-900 to London Gatwick brings a refined cabin experience designed to cater to modern travelers who value comfort, convenience, and advanced technology. The Business Class cabin comprises 32 lie-flat seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger and maximizing personal space during the flight. The lie-flat design supports extended rest and recovery on the journey, which is particularly valuable for business travelers who need to arrive at their destination ready to engage in meetings or events, as well as for leisure travelers seeking a restful travel experience after a day of activities.
Premium Economy on the LGW service offers a dedicated seating area with enhanced legroom, wider seats, and improved dining and entertainment options compared with standard economy. With 28 Premium Economy seats on the aircraft, passengers enjoy a balance of comfort and efficiency, suitable for longer journeys where a touch of enhanced service can make a meaningful difference in overall travel satisfaction. Economy Class seating, totaling 238 seats, is designed to maximize comfort and value for the broadest range of travelers, while still delivering Emirates’ standard in-flight entertainment and service quality.
A notable feature across the cabin is wireless charging in the Business Class cabin, which supports traveler productivity by enabling passengers to power devices conveniently without cables. The digital inflight menu system provides a modern, paperless experience, allowing passengers to browse and select meals with ease from personal devices or seat interfaces. Additionally, electric window blinds in the premium cabins offer seamless light control and privacy, with the Ghaf tree motif adding a distinct aesthetic element that reflects Emirates’ design philosophy and brand identity.
Emirates’ acclaimed inflight entertainment (IFE) system remains a central component of the travel experience, delivering a wide range of movies, TV shows, music, and interactive content across all cabins. The integration of technology with comfort-focused design ensures that passengers have ample opportunities to relax, work, and stay entertained throughout the flight, contributing to an overall high-quality journey from Dubai to London Gatwick and back.
From a usability perspective, the A350-900 is engineered for efficiency and passenger convenience. The aircraft’s cabin atmosphere, pressurization, and ambient lighting contribute to a more comfortable long-haul experience, while advanced air filtration and cabin design reinforce onboard well-being. Together, the cabin features support Emirates’ objective of providing a premium, yet practical travel option for both leisure and business travelers who value a consistent, high-standard service on major international routes.
Network expansion: UK and global reach
London Gatwick’s role as Emirates’ newest gateway to the A350 marks a strategic enhancement of the airline’s UK network. Gatwick becomes the second UK airport to welcome Emirates’ A350 after Edinburgh, signaling confidence in the UK market and Emirates’ commitment to expanding its footprint beyond its traditional hubs. The LGW addition complements Emirates’ existing services across the UK, contributing to a broader strategy aimed at distributing demand across multiple airports and improving access for travelers across the country.
With the new LGW service, Emirates’ UK operations expand to a total of 140 weekly flights across eight cities. These eight UK destinations include London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. The airline operates a mix of Airbus A350s, A380s, and Boeing 777s to serve these routes, reflecting a flexible fleet strategy designed to optimize capacity and service levels in line with demand and airport requirements. The use of multiple aircraft types enables Emirates to tailor capacity to each market, ensuring that passengers enjoy consistent service quality while airports manage throughput and efficiency.
In the broader context of Emirates’ global network, the LGW service aligns with the airline’s strategy of linking major international hubs through a constellation of global routes operated by the A350. The A350’s introduction to London Gatwick places Emirates among a growing group of global cities connected by the aircraft, alongside markets such as Mumbai, Istanbul, Muscat, Edinburgh, and Amman. This showcases Emirates’ ongoing commitment to expanding premium, long-haul travel options and strengthening connections between key regional markets and Dubai, a hub renowned for its connectivity and business-friendly travel infrastructure.
From a passenger value perspective, the expanded London operations offer greater timing flexibility, enabling travelers to optimize layovers, business meetings, hotel stays, and sightseeing opportunities across the city and surrounding regions. The LGW service complements Emirates’ wider London options, ensuring that travelers can select from multiple gateways and flight times that best suit their itineraries. This approach helps Emirates maintain a strong competitive stance in the European and Middle Eastern travel markets, positioning the airline as a preferred choice for travelers prioritizing reliability, comfort, and convenience on cross-border journeys.
Booking and travel planning details
Passengers seeking to fly the new Dubai–London Gatwick route can book through Emirates’ official channels, including emirates.com and the Emirates App, as well as through retail outlets, the airline’s contact centre, or travel agents. This multi-channel approach ensures that travelers have convenient access to seats, fare options, and personalized assistance when planning their trips on EK069 and EK070. The availability of multiple booking avenues supports a smooth, user-friendly experience, allowing customers to choose the most suitable option for their preferences and needs. Booking early for the February 2026 launch will enable travelers to secure preferred seats and fare classes across the three cabin options.
Travelers may also benefit from the broader Emirates UK network, which provides connections to a wide range of destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The airline’s integrated network strategy offers synergy between Dubai’s hub operations and regional gateways, facilitating easier connections for passengers traveling on multi-city itineraries or those combining multiple Emirates routes in a single trip. As Emirates continues to expand its fleet and route network, travelers can anticipate more options, better times, and improved reliability across the carrier’s international footprint.
Conclusion
Emirates’ plan to add a fourth daily Dubai–London Gatwick flight (EK069/070) from February 8, 2026, represents a deliberate step to strengthen its UK presence and deliver enhanced options for travelers between the UAE and the United Kingdom. The new service, operated by the Airbus A350-900 in a three-class configuration, introduces a modern cabin experience featuring lie-flat Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy, alongside digital menus, wireless charging, and premium cabin design elements. The late-night return schedule from London and the early-morning arrival into Dubai are designed to maximize flexibility for business and leisure travelers alike, supporting connections, hotel stays, and daytime activities.
This expansion complements Emirates’ broader strategy to grow its London operations across Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stansted, eventually delivering more than a dozen daily flights to the city and enabling convenient travel options for a diverse range of passengers. The airline’s ongoing commitment to updating its fleet with A350s and deploying a mix of A350s, A380s, and 777s across the UK demonstrates a strategic emphasis on efficiency, comfort, and reliability. For travelers seeking premium service with the latest cabin technology, Emirates’ Gatwick service adds a compelling option, reinforcing its role as a leading, globally connected carrier with a robust, customer-focused approach. The scheduling and network enhancements are positioned to deliver practical value, improved connectivity, and greater travel flexibility for both business and leisure travelers across the Europe–Middle East corridor.