Emirates Adds 2 Daily Airbus A380 Flights To Europe’s 10th Busiest Airport

In the latest schedule update, Emirates confirmed a notable change in aircraft deployed to London Gatwick. In winter 2026/2027, it’ll have three daily Airbus A380 flights again. It comes shortly after the airline added its shortest superjumbo service.

Do not misunderstand. The Gulf giant currently has triple-daily superjumbo jumbo services to Europe’s 10th busiest airport. But the critical bit is this. For next winter, the A380 was only down to operate daily. This change reflects the continued fine-tuning of its schedules and strong wintertime demand. Perhaps it is also partly in response to Air Arabia beginning double daily flights from Sharjah to Gatwick.

Emirates’ 3rd Daily A380 Flight To Gatwick

EK DXB-LGW Credit: GCMap

From January 1, Emirates had only planned a daily or twice-daily double-decker operation to Gatwick. The three-daily operation was a thing of the past. The downgauge partly reflected the route’s frequency being increased to four daily departures from February 8, with the start of A350-900 flights from Dubai. But the plan has changed again, as it is prone to do, especially so far in advance. Airlines are still fine-tuning schedules.

Beginning on October 25, Emirates will have three daily A380 departures to Gatwick once more. This is when northern carriers switch to winter schedules. It plans to maintain this frequency through winter 2026/2027. Schedule analysis shows that the two-class, 615-seat, non-first-class configuration will be used on two of the three daily A380 flights again.

In November 2026, Cirium indicates that Emirates will have 123,540 round-trip Gatwick seats for sale. Compared to November 2025, its offering has jumped by a substantial 18%. It will be the route’s best month for capacity to date. It cements Gatwick as Emirates’ second-largest European market after Heathrow.

Frequency

Dubai To Gatwick; Local Times*

Gatwick To Dubai; Local Times**

Daily

2:50 am-6:40 am (615-seat A380; replaces the 777-300ER)

9:40 am-8:30 pm (615-seat A380; replaces the 777-300ER)

Daily

7:40 am-11:40 am (517-seat, first-class A380)

1:35 pm-12:40 am (next day arrival; 517-seat, first-class A380)

Daily

2:25 pm-6:25 pm (615-seat A380; replaces the 777-300ER)

8:25 pm-7:20 am (next day arrival; 615-seat A380; replaces the 777-300ER)

Daily

5:05 pm-8:50 pm (A350-900)

11:55 pm-11:00 am (next day arrival; A350-900)

* November 2026, as of December 24, 2025. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format

** November 2026, as of December 24, 2025. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format

14 Daily A380 Flights To The UK

Airbus A380-861 Emirates Special Livery Destination Dubai A6-EEU Take-Off At Vienna Schwechat Airport Credit: Shutterstock

While subject to change, the latest information for November 2026 shows that Emirates plans 14 daily departures to the UK. Perhaps not surprisingly, it’ll be by far the airline’s most-served nation for superjumbo services. Australia and the US are joint-second, with seven daily departures each. The UK will account for more than one in six of Emirates’ A380 flights from Dubai.

Everyone knows that Dubai-Heathrow is the world’s leading A380 route. Emirates will fly the double-decker six times a day to the UK’s busiest airport. Four-class equipment, including first class and premium economy, will continue to be available on all six flights.

Gatwick will have three daily departures (one with first class, two on the 615-seater). Manchester will also have three daily flights. But unlike in November 2025, its premium offering will be greater than Gatwick’s: only one flight will be in the non-first-class configuration. Then there’s Birmingham (daily 615-seater) and Glasgow (daily, with first class).

Finnair Airbus A350-900 in custom thumbnail


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These Cities Will Have 3 Or More Daily Emirates A380 Flights

Airbus A380 Emirates airlines landing at Melbourne International Airport. Credit: Shutterstock

Let’s stick with next November. The usual caveats about it being a snapshot as of the time of writing and that things could change apply. In that winter month, Emirates plans to fly the superjumbo from Dubai to 52 airports globally.

Ten routes will have at least a three-daily double-decker offering. There’s Heathrow (six daily) and Bangkok (four daily; one flight continues to Hong Kong). Eight airports will have three daily departures: Cairo, Gatwick, Jeddah, Manchester, New York JFK (one via Milan Malpensa), Paris CDG, Singapore, and Sydney.