Emirates Airlines recently announced a change in the aircraft used for their London Gatwick flights in the winter 2026/2027 schedule update. The airline will once again have three daily flights operated by the Airbus A380. This change comes after the airline added their shortest A380 service.

It is important to note that Emirates currently operates triple-daily A380 flights to Gatwick, which is Europe’s 10th busiest airport. However, for the upcoming winter schedule, the A380 was only scheduled to operate once per day. This recent change reflects the airline’s continuous efforts to fine-tune their schedules to meet the strong demand during the winter. It may also be in response to Air Arabia’s launch of double daily flights from Sharjah to Gatwick.

Emirates’ third daily A380 flight to Gatwick will begin on October 25, coinciding with the switch to winter schedules for northern carriers. This frequency will be maintained throughout the winter 2026/2027 season. According to schedule analysis, two of the three daily flights will be operated by the two-class, 615-seat configuration without first class. In November 2026, Cirium data shows that Emirates will offer 123,540 round-trip seats for sale, an 18% increase from the same period in 2025. This solidifies Gatwick as Emirates’ second-largest European market after Heathrow.

In terms of frequency, Emirates will have 14 daily A380 departures to the UK in November 2026, subject to change. It is worth noting that the UK will be the most-served nation for A380 services, with Australia and the US tied for second with seven daily departures each. Out of the 14 daily flights, six will fly to London Heathrow, three to Gatwick, three to Manchester, one to Birmingham, and one to Glasgow.

Looking at the bigger picture, Emirates plans to operate the A380 to 52 airports globally in November 2026, subject to change. Ten of these routes will have at least three daily A380 flights, including Heathrow, Bangkok, Cairo, Gatwick, Jeddah, Manchester, New York JFK (one via Milan Malpensa), Paris CDG, Singapore, and Sydney.

Overall, Emirates’ decision to increase the frequency of A380 flights to Gatwick in the upcoming winter season reflects their commitment to meeting the strong demand for travel during this period. This change will provide more options for passengers and solidify Gatwick’s position as an important market for the airline.