Starting with 30 March 2014, Emirates will operate EK 009 / 010 flights to and from London Gatwick by aircraft Airbus A380, increasing with 36% capacity on one of the 3 daily flights on the route Dubai-London Gatwick.
EX009 flight operated by A380 will depart from Dubai at 15: 00 and will land at London Gatwick Airport at 19: 30. Return flight EK010 will depart from London at 21: 15 and arrive in Dubai at 07: 20, the next day.
The two-deck complete aircraft is configured in 3 classes and with 489 seating capacity: 399 seats in Economy Class, 76 seats in Business Class and 14 apartments in First Class.
Emirates is the first airline to operate A380 flights at the airport London Gatwick. This action is part of the strategic partnership between the airport and the air carrier in the United Arab Emirates. London Gatwick was the first UK destination operated by Emirates since 1987.
London Gatwick has invested 6.4 millions of pounds in the infrastructure to be able to receive Airbus A380 aircraft. On March 26, 2013, Emirates operated the first A380 flight in the history of London airport. In the A380 project, in addition to the extension, Gatwick also invested in modernizing firefighting equipment, adapting superjumbo tracks and runways, and upgrading electrical and fuel systems.
Emirates is the largest airline operator for Airbus A380, having an operational fleet consisting of 44 aircraft and other 96 in command.