On Monday, Dubai-based Emirates touched down in Edinburgh for the first time since the carrier suspended the route four years ago in 2020. 

The UAE flag carrier plans to connect Edinburgh Airport (EDI) with its mega-hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) daily. 

Emirates Returns to Edinburgh After 4-Year Pause

According to scheduling data from aviation analytics company Cirium, Emirates last operated flights to Edinburgh in March 2020, withdrawing from the route due to global COVID-19 lockdowns. 

While this route was originally planned to resume utilizing one of Emirates’ soon-to-be-delivered Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the introduction of the A350 on this route has been pushed back due to aircraft delivery delays. 

Until the A350 arrives, Emirates will deploy one of its 10 Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, outfitted with 8 award-winning first-

class suites, 42 lie-flat business class seats, and 216 standard economy seats.
 

Celebrating the airline’s return to the Scottish capital, A6-EWB, the 777 operating the first flight back to Edinburgh, was greeted after landing with a traditional Scottish musical performance by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. 

The first flight, EK23, departed Dubai at 9:39 a.m., flying across the Middle East and Europe for seven hours before touching down in Edinburgh at 1:09 p.m. However, all future flights will depart Dubai at 2:50 p.m. and arrive in Scotland at 7:05 p.m.

The return leg departed Edinburgh at 8:54 p.m., 14 minutes later than the scheduled 8:40 departure, flew overnight for six hours and 47 minutes, arriving in Dubai at 7:41 a.m., 24 minutes ahead of the planned 8:05 a.m. arrival time. 

Scottish Growth and Tourism Boost

With the reintroduction of nonstop Emirates service between Dubai and Edinburgh, the carrier will now offer customers 8 destinations in the United Kingdom. In addition, the daily Edinburgh service will complement the airline’s current daily A380 flight to Glasgow (GLA), offering customers 14 weekly flights to and from Scotland. 

Emirates expects to increase its service to help attract more visitors from top Scottish tourism markets, such as Australia and India. According to Visit Scotland, the country welcomed 4 million international visitors in 2023, a 23% increase compared to 2022. Emirates’ global network of over 140 destinations will help “raise awareness and visibility around the country’s unique experiences and landscapes.”
 

Commenting on Monday’s Edinburgh launch, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said: “The UK is one of our most important markets, and we’re proud to reinstate our footprint in Scotland — a country that’s loved by visitors from around the world.”

“Scottish customers can look forward to an elevated travel experience onboard, initially with our Boeing 777 ahead of our highly anticipated A350 arrival. With 14 weekly flights to and from the country, passengers can now easily connect to popular long-haul destinations such as Thailand, Australia, and of course, the vibrant city of Dubai.”

In addition to contributing to growing Scottish tourism numbers, Emirates will also be able to uplift 16 tonnes of cargo per flight through the airline’s SkyCargo division. This will allow local businesses to access the Emirates’ global network and improve trade links with popular high-value and time-crucial goods, like salmon, shellfish, and whisky. 

Where’s the A350?

For the remainder of November and into December, Emirates will continue to operate a Boeing 777-200LR on the Dubai-

Edinburgh route. However, on December 16th, Emirates’ schedules show that the company anticipates the brand-new Airbus A350-900  will replace the aging 777-200LR. 

When introduced, the A350 will bring Emirates’ improved premium economy product and brand-new business class cabin to its passengers. However, introducing the A350 will also see the removal of Emirates' signature first-class product from the route. 

Nevertheless, like frequent Emirates passengers, Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport also looks forward to the launch of A350 flights between Dubai and Edinburgh, saying “The return of Emirates has been one we have all been excited about and we are already looking forward to the introduction of the airline’s first A350, which offers passengers the chance to experience Emirates’ acclaimed Premium Economy product and its brand new Business Class cabin.”