dailynewsnblog
More changes are coming to 
Emirates’ London Gatwick operation. The Gulf giant has confirmed that the Airbus A380 will not fly there in October or November, with the Boeing 777-300ER replacing it. It’s a temporary but notable shift.
It is the latest in a string of intriguing developments in UAE carriers’ networks in the past week or so. Other changes include Copenhagen losing the A380 entirely, Etihad announcing a brand-new route to Luxembourg, and Emirates finally flying to Helsinki. In November, Air Arabia announced the start of a twice-daily Sharjah-Gatwick service.
No A380s At Gatwick In October/November
Until late 2025, Emirates had not scheduled the double-decker to the UK’s second-busiest airport in winter 2026/2027. This was simply because it had not got to its winter plan. Shortly before Christmas Day, it transpired that the type would, as expected, fly there next winter. But the plan has changed again, at least in part.
Emirates currently uses the superjumbo on a double daily basis to 
Gatwick. But as first identified by Aeroroutes and now reflected in the carrier’s booking engine, the type’s operations will be temporarily be suspended. The final departure will take place on September 30.
From October 1 until November 30, the route will temporarily be served exclusively by twinjet aircraft. OAG data shows that it’ll be the first time since 2021, during COVID-19, that the A380 won’t fly to Gatwick. From December 1, in time for the Christmas rush, Emirates plans three daily A380 flights to Gatwick again, a frequency that OAG shows was last available in December 2025. But rather than taking effect from the previously planned end of October, it’ll now be available from December 1.
All of this information is based on what is scheduled as of January 15, nearly a year in advance. It epitomizes the problem of looking so far ahead. It is why I typically avoid doing it, unless the changes are particularly notable. And it is possible that Emirates’ plan for next winter will change again, as it finalizes its winter schedules.
Emirates’ New Gatwick Plan In October/November
On February 8, the plan remains to add a fourth daily service to the West Sussex airport, which will be operated by the 298-seat A350-900. It will be the first time Emirates’ A350s have flown to London. The route will be served four times daily year round, which is partly why it continues to change the plan for its A380s.
November, in particular, is among the worst-performing months for airlines. Consequently, it is perhaps unsurprising that that month is included in when the superjumbo won’t be used to Gatwick. They included two daily flights aboard the gigantic, two-class, 615-seat configuration. The downgauge obviously means the airline’s Gatwick capacity will fall meaningfully. It’ll help to improve fares, yields, and loads and, therefore, enhance overall performance.
As of January 15, and subject to change, the new plan is as follows. The 2:50 am and 2:25 pm departures from Dubai, and 9:40 am and 8:25 pm flights from Gatwick, will be on Emirates’ 421-seat, two-class 777-300ERs. First class will still be available at Gatwick, with the 7:40 departure from the UAE, and 1:35 pm flight from the UK airport, having it. As this 777-300ER won’t have premium economy, the 354-seat or 360-seat configuration will be used.
|
Frequency |
Dubai To Gatwick In November; Local Times* |
Gatwick To Dubai In November; Local Times** |
|---|---|---|
|
Daily |
2:50 am-6:40 am (777-300ER) |
9:40 am-8:30 pm (777-300ER) |
|
Daily |
7:40 am-11:40 am (777-300ER) |
1:35 pm-12:40 am (777-300ER) |
|
Daily |
2:25 pm-6:25 pm (777-300ER) |
8:25 pm-7:20 am+1 (777-300ER) |
|
Daily |
5:05 pm-8:50 pm (A350-900) |
11:55 pm-11:00am+1 (A350-900) |
|
* Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
** Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
Queen Of The Skies: The Boeing 747’s 10 Most Popular Routes In The Last 20 Years
The jumbo once ruled the skies. But which airport pairs reigned supreme? The answers may surprise you.
Gatwick’s The Only Long-Haul Route With Four Or More Daily Twinjet Flights
Let’s stick with November. Examining Emirates’ full network shows that six routes from Dubai will now have four or more daily departures on twinjet aircraft. This could be fully or partly in the winter month.
The destinations are Bahrain, Dammam, Delhi, Gatwick, Kuwait, and Mumbai. Gatwick will thus be the airline’s sole long-haul route with four or more daily twinjet flights. In fact, it has been a long time since any long-haul market has seen that many of the carrier’s twinjets.
