Emirates’long-
With the launch of EK717, Emirates now offers 21 weekly flights on the Dubai-Nairobi route, strengthening global connectivity and supporting Kenya’s tourism ambitions.
Optimally timed for the summer schedule, EK717 departs Dubai at 01:20 and arrives in Nairobi at 05:25, allowing better connectivity from major US gateways and key destinations in Europe. The return flight, EK718 departs Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 07:10 and arrives in Dubai at 13:15*, unlocking more seamless onwards connections into the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Portugal, among other European destinations.
The addition of the morning schedule adds a new, complementary dynamic to Emirates’ operations: for international tourists arriving in Nairobi, they have more time to reach their final destination even if outside the city – such as a lodge in one of the national parks, or a beach house on the Kenyan coast. For business travellers, the morning outbound enables same-day connections to key commercial hubs in Europe, such as London and Paris.
Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager for Kenya, said, “For three decades, Kenya has been one of Emirates’ most important destinations in Africa, and this third daily service reflects both the strength of that relationship and our confidence in the country’s future. More than adding capacity, this flight creates better connections for travellers from across Europe, North America and beyond, making it easier for people to visit Kenya, do business here, and connect with family and opportunities. It is an investment in a market we know well and a commitment to supporting Kenya’s growing role as a regional and global gateway.”
Emirates operated its first flight into Nairobi in 1995 and, in the three decades since, has transported over six million passengers to and from the country, connecting Kenya to over 138 global destinations, via Dubai.
Enabling Pan-Africa connections, Emirates signed an interline partnership with Kenya Airways in 2023, and to date, over 31,000 passengers have already travelled smoothly between the two airlines’ networks, continuing to Rwanda, Kilimanjaro, Mozambique, and beyond. The third daily service provides more options for travellers with additional departure times that simplify regional onward travel.
The additional frequency also unlocks an extra 280 tonnes of cargo capacity every week. For Kenya’s flower farmers and fresh produce exporters, the early morning departure is a huge boon, allowing flowers to be picked and on their way to markets in Europe and the Gulf by dawn, arriving fresh and blooming. Along with Emirates SkyCargo’s three weekly freighters already serving Nairobi, the airline now transports over 1,100 tonnes of goods in and out of Kenya weekly.
Earlier this year, Kenya and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, deepening ties between the two countries in many ways beyond aviation. Kenya aims to welcome five million international tourists by 2030, an ambition that relies heavily on making the country easier to access from important markets. Emirates’ three daily flights from Dubai, along with onward connections across Europe and North America, play a significant role in achieving that goal.
WN/as/APA