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Emirates lifts Heathrow to 48 weekly flights

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER at London Heathrow, illustrating added winter capacity and Emirates London Heathrow flights expanding to 48 weekly.
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5 min read

Emirates will add six weekly services between Dubai International (DXB) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from October 26, 2025, raising its winter schedule to 48 weekly flights. The new frequencies, operated by Boeing 777-300ERs, complement the carrier's six daily Airbus A380 rotations and target peak year-end demand. Timings are set to favor overnight connections from London and smooth arrivals into Dubai for onward links across Asia and Africa. Emirates also signals broader UK growth through early 2026, including additional London capacity via Gatwick.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: More seats and time options on the high-demand DXB-LHR corridor this winter.
  • Travel impact: Added overnight departures from LHR improve one-stop connectivity to Asia and Africa.
  • What's next: Emirates projects 90 weekly London flights and 146 weekly UK services by early 2026.
  • New flights run daily except Friday on 777-300ER, three-class, 350+ seats each way.
  • Existing six daily A380 services at LHR remain unchanged.

Snapshot

Starting October 26, 2025, Emirates introduces six additional weekly DXB-LHR flights, excluding Fridays, operated by 777-300ERs in First, Business, and Economy. Published schedules list EK41 departures from Dubai at 140 p.m. most days, with a Thursday variant at 1255 p.m.; returns as EK42 depart Heathrow at 1035 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and 920 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The expansion takes Heathrow to 48 weekly flights for the winter season while maintaining six daily A380 services. Emirates says the timing supports connections to Durban, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Jakarta, with improved inbound links from India, the Middle East, and China.

Background

DXB-LHR is among the world's busiest long-haul markets, historically constrained by Heathrow slots and seasonal peaks. Emirates already fields six daily A380s at Heathrow, positioning the route as a premium, high-capacity trunk with strong transfer traffic via Dubai. The new 777-300ER frequencies add schedule flexibility and marginal capacity without altering existing A380 waves. The start date aligns with the IATA Northern Winter 2025/26 season, a common window for capacity adjustments. In parallel, Emirates has announced continued London growth, including a fourth daily London Gatwick service from February 8, 2026, operated by the A350, contributing to a projected 90 weekly London flights and 146 weekly across the UK by early 2026.

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Latest Developments

Emirates adds timed overnight links on DXB-LHR to widen Asia and Africa connectivity

The new EK41/42 rotation is tailored for overnight departures out of London, creating short connections in Dubai onto Southeast Asia and China while preserving morning bank arrivals into DXB. Emirates lists specific days and timings: EK41 from Dubai at 140 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, with Thursday at 1255 p.m.; EK42 returns from Heathrow at 1035 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and 920 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Capacity is on three-class 777-300ERs with 350+ seats per leg, complementing six daily A380 flights already in the market. Emirates frames the move as meeting "record growth and demand," while slot filings and industry trackers show the DXB-LHR tally rising from 42 to 48 weekly services for the winter period.

Analysis

This is a classic shoulder-season play: layer incremental frequencies where demand is durable and yields support premium cabins. By adding a 777-300ER rotation around the A380 backbone, Emirates increases choice without disrupting established banks. Overnight departures from London are a sweet spot, catching corporate travelers and long-haul leisure alike, then feeding DXB's early-morning connections to Asia and Africa. The schedule also improves return options for travelers originating in India and the Gulf, arriving Heathrow before midnight for easier arrivals processing and ground transport.

Operationally, the 777-300ER offers flexibility on days where A380 gauge is less efficient, while still delivering a competitive First and Business product and a dense Economy cabin. The Friday gap suggests slot constraints or day-specific demand shaping, both common at Heathrow. Strategically, the step-up to 48 weekly flights solidifies Emirates' London footprint ahead of its London Gatwick build-out in early 2026. If the Gatwick A350 addition and the projected 146 weekly UK flights materialize, Emirates will further diversify London access, mitigating Heathrow's slot rigidity while defending its one-stop proposition to Asia and the South Pacific.

Final Thoughts

For winter travelers eyeing Dubai or one-stop links to Asia and Africa, the additional DXB-LHR frequencies mean more departure times and better connection choices. Expect the 777-300ER rotations to complement the A380 waves, smoothing peak-day demand and easing fare pressure at the margins. If you are connecting onward, the late-evening EK42 departures from London are positioned to hit DXB's morning bank efficiently. With Gatwick growth queued up for February 2026, London-area options should keep expanding, reinforcing the value of Emirates London Heathrow flights.

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