Emirates once again take to the skies

The world's largest airline resumed flights today (Aug 1) after pausing the service in March 2020 due to the global pandemic.

Flights will operate daily using a Boeing 777-300ER, offering passengers a choice between first, business and economy fares, with the inbound flight EK65 arriving at Stansted at 13.30, and the outbound departure EK68 leaving at 21.10.

Steve Griffiths, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said:

“The return of daily flights from London Stansted to Dubai with Emirates is fantastic news for the airport and demonstrates the renewed confidence of airlines and passengers as we recover from the pandemic. The service proved to be extremely popular following its launch in 2018, so Emirates timely return is a huge boost to passengers in London and the East of England, offering not only a vital link between the two destinations but right across the globe thanks to the airline's worldwide route network available via Dubai.”

Richard Jewsbury, Emirates Divisional Vice President in the UK, said:

“We are delighted to be recommencing services to and from Stansted today and offering passengers further connectivity during the popular summer holiday period. Bookings in the UK and London have continued to surge with the further easing of travel restrictions and as appetite for international travel grows stronger. Stansted is a key hub for Emirates in the East and Southeast of the UK as we continue to scale up travel following the pandemic. We look forward to welcoming more passengers on board our premium Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in the coming months.” 

There has been widespread praise for the resumption of flights among local business groups and tourism groups.

Dame Ann Limb, Chair of the UK Innovation Corridor, said:

“As chair of the UK's Innovation Corridor, the return of Emirates flights to Dubai from London Stansted is great news for both London and the East of England. This route is extremely important not only for leisure passengers, but also for businesses and communities along the Corridor, particularly given the growing opportunities in life sciences and biomedical technology in this region."

Pete Waters, Executive Director of Visit East of England, said:

“Attracting more international visitors is crucial to growing the East of England’s year-round visitor economy so establishing this connection between London Stansted and the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai hub will create a lot more opportunity for inbound tourism.”

Denise Rossiter, Chief Executive of Essex Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Essex Chamber of Commerce are delighted that Emirates is returning to Stansted. A re-established Middle East connection will bring new opportunities for trade, tourism, and employment for businesses in Essex who are seeking to trade internationally." 

Richard Tunnicliffe, CBI East of England Director, said:

“The return of Emirates flights to Dubai is a sign of the continued recovery of the aviation sector, particularly at London Stansted, which is very pleasing to see. As well as providing international connectivity, this route will open up a range of new trading opportunities for firms in the east of England and prove key for businesses trying to rebuild following the pandemic.”