Emirates will add more flights to and from London Gatwick and is on-track to restart Stanstead services. Photo: Emirates
Emirates will add more flights to and from London Gatwick and is on-track to restart Stanstead services. Photo: Emirates
Emirates will add more flights to and from London Gatwick and is on-track to restart Stanstead services. Photo: Emirates
Emirates will add more flights to and from London Gatwick and is on-track to restart Stanstead services. Photo: Emirates

Emirates adds London Gatwick flights following Heathrow cap on passenger numbers


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Emirates is adding more flights to London to help cope with high travel demand this summer.

Dubai's biggest airline will increase its flight schedule in and out of London Gatwick from Wednesday. Emirates will add one more daily flight to its network, taking its Dubai-Gatwick route to three services a day.

Emirates said it is “grateful for the support" from the airport in helping provide passengers with “a smooth and reliable journey”.

The move comes following London Heathrow's cap on passenger numbers and is designed to provide extra seats for travellers affected by the new limits.

Additional flights will operate to the airport until Wednesday, August 3. Scheduled to fly in the morning, the flight will operate via a Boeing 777 aircraft with first, business and economy class cabins.

Emirates previously refused to cut capacity on flights to Europe's busiest airport saying it would affect too many customers.

  • Long queues, cancellations and luggage problems have plagued Heathrow Airport since the travel sector’s comeback from coronavirus restrictions. Bloomberg
    Long queues, cancellations and luggage problems have plagued Heathrow Airport since the travel sector’s comeback from coronavirus restrictions. Bloomberg
  • The airport has struggled to cope with a volume of more than 100,000 departing passengers a day, with bags arriving late, queues snaking through terminals and flights being cancelled at the 11th hour. Reuters
    The airport has struggled to cope with a volume of more than 100,000 departing passengers a day, with bags arriving late, queues snaking through terminals and flights being cancelled at the 11th hour. Reuters
  • Travelling through Heathrow has been a dire experience for some of late. AP
    Travelling through Heathrow has been a dire experience for some of late. AP
  • Suitcases uncollected at Heathrow's Terminal 3 baggage reclaim. AFP
    Suitcases uncollected at Heathrow's Terminal 3 baggage reclaim. AFP
  • There is a shortage of staff after many people were laid off during the pandemic. AP
    There is a shortage of staff after many people were laid off during the pandemic. AP
  • Heathrow rejects the accusation of having failed to prepare, saying it started recruiting extra staff last November. AP
    Heathrow rejects the accusation of having failed to prepare, saying it started recruiting extra staff last November. AP
  • Baggage piles up outside Terminal 2 at Heathrow in June. Baggage issues have bedevilled the airport, with a combination of staff shortages and malfunctioning automated baggage handling systems contributing to the mayhem. Reuters
    Baggage piles up outside Terminal 2 at Heathrow in June. Baggage issues have bedevilled the airport, with a combination of staff shortages and malfunctioning automated baggage handling systems contributing to the mayhem. Reuters
  • One traveller shows his disappointment while waiting in a long queue to pass through a security check in June. Getty Images
    One traveller shows his disappointment while waiting in a long queue to pass through a security check in June. Getty Images
  • Passengers queue to check in at Terminal 5. Bloomberg
    Passengers queue to check in at Terminal 5. Bloomberg
  • A queue snakes through the airport. Getty Images
    A queue snakes through the airport. Getty Images
  • A waiting passenger decides to get some sleep in Terminal 5. Reuters
    A waiting passenger decides to get some sleep in Terminal 5. Reuters
  • Long queues form through a terminal. PA
    Long queues form through a terminal. PA
  • A crowded check in area in Terminal 2 in April. Heathrow rejects the accusation of having failed to prepare, saying it started recruiting months ago. PA
    A crowded check in area in Terminal 2 in April. Heathrow rejects the accusation of having failed to prepare, saying it started recruiting months ago. PA
  • A dejected looking passenger queues for check-in ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend at Heathrow in April. Reuters
    A dejected looking passenger queues for check-in ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend at Heathrow in April. Reuters
  • People queuing to go through security at Heathrow. PA
    People queuing to go through security at Heathrow. PA
  • Queues at arrivals in Heathrow in March. Photo: Sven Kili / Twitter
    Queues at arrivals in Heathrow in March. Photo: Sven Kili / Twitter

“We said we can't do that and we won't do that,” said Emirates president Sir Tim Clark, at a panel at Farnborough International Airshow last week.

The airline has since agreed to stop selling tickets on flights until mid-August and is making “capacity adjustments” on London Heathrow flights in order to “help ease operational pressures at the airport”.

Travellers affected by the changes will be contacted by the airline, or the travel agent they booked with, to confirm new travel plans.

“The third daily flight, currently planned from July 27 until August 3, will help serve high demand to and from London, and provide additional seats to accommodate Emirates passengers affected by capacity adjustments on flights from London Heathrow, which will be made to help ease operational pressures at the airport," a representative for Emirates told The National.

"We are closely monitoring our operations in the UK, and will adjust our capacity as needed to best serve our customers. We are working hard with our airport and ground services partners to ensure we are equipped to handle the demand. We want our customers to have the confidence that we will deliver the best experience possible, with minimal disruptions to their travel plans.”

The airline confirmed it is “working closely with its travel partners to reaccommodate any affected bookings and ensure smooth onward flight connections for customers to reach their planned destination.”

Earlier this week, Gatwick airport asked passengers to be better prepared when flying. Airport bosses requested passengers pay more attention to security rules before their flights to ease disruption in its terminals.

Emirates to fly to three London airports in August

Emirates will operate to and from three airports in London starting August 1. Photo: PA
Emirates will operate to and from three airports in London starting August 1. Photo: PA

Emirates is also moving forward with plans to restart daily services from Dubai to London Stanstead from Monday, August 1.

The airline previously announced it would operate five flights to the Essex airport each week in August, increasing the service to a daily one from Thursday, September 1.

The airline continues to operate six daily flights to and from London Heathrow.

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Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

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The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

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The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.6-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 285bhp

Torque: 353Nm

Price: TBA

On sale: Q2, 2020

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%20turbo%204-cyl%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E298hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E452Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETowing%20capacity%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.4-tonne%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPayload%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4WD%20%E2%80%93%20776kg%3B%20Rear-wheel%20drive%20819kg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrice%3A%20Dh138%2C945%20(XLT)%20Dh193%2C095%20(Wildtrak)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDelivery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20August%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

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Brief scores:

Barcelona 3

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Rayo Vallecano 1

De Tomas Gomez 24'

If you go

Flying

Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.

 

Touring

Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com 

No_One Ever Really Dies

N*E*R*D

(I Am Other/Columbia)

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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LIVERPOOL SQUAD

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Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
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SPECS
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THE SPECS

GMC Sierra Denali 1500

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Price: Dh232,500

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Updated: July 25, 2022, 7:30 AM