The Gulf carrier will operate a daily Dubai-Gatwick service starting 10 December using a Boeing B777 aircraft featuring first, business and economy cabins.

Flight EK015 will depart Dubai at 7.40am arriving Gatwick at 11.40am, with EK016 departing Gatwick at 1.35pm arriving Dubai at 12.40am (+1).

The service will expand Emirates’ UK schedule to six gateways and means in December, Emirates will operate six-times-daily to Heathrow; twice-daily to Manchester; 10 weekly services to Birmingham; a daily Glasgow service; and four-times-weekly to Newcastle.

By the end of the year, Emirates anticipates operating 84 weekly flights between the UK and Dubai, connecting to the carrier’s network of more than 120 onward destinations.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer, said: "With the UK simplifying travel and accepting international vaccination certificates, we’ve seen a big surge in demand as people have been a lot more confident in booking trips for the coming months and further ahead, be it for business, a winter sun escape or to visit family and friends.

"Gatwick has long been a valued partner for Emirates and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard an Emirates flight soon.”

Stephen King, Gatwick’s head of airline relations, added: “We are delighted to welcome Emirates back to Gatwick in December. Emirates has been a hugely popular airline for Gatwick passengers and it’s fantastic that we are once again able to offer passengers across London and the south-east the opportunity to connect with Dubai and beyond."