Dubai: On July 6, 1987, Emirates airline inaugurated its first flight to Europe by launching daily flights to Gatwick Airport in London, the beginning of the airline’s success story in the UK spanning 25 years.
Emirate Airline currently operates 16 daily flights to six airports in the UK.
Salem Obaidullah, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe and Russian Federation, said that the airline’s focus on the British capital was based on the airline’s knowledge about the importance of London as a trading, tourism and financial hub, and as a key element of global aviation movement.
The UAE did not simply increase the number of passenger capacity available on flights between the Dubai and London, but also improved aviation and land services and products, such as the introduction of a limousine service in London for first class passengers.
Following Emirates airline’s initial success in proving that it can bolster tourism movement between UAE and Britain, the number of flights operating to Gatwick Airport was increased to nine flights a week. In June 1991, the airline began operating in Heathrow airport, and increased the number of flights to Gatwick to 10 flights a week. In 1993, Emirates Airline began operating two flights a day to London Heathrow, and in October 1993 began offering its services to Manchester.
