Emirates has announced a major expansion of its operations in Kenya with the introduction of a third daily flight to Nairobi, set to begin on 1 March 2026. The addition raises the airline’s total frequencies on the Dubai–Nairobi route to 21 flights per week, significantly boosting capacity for both passengers and cargo at a time of rising demand for international travel.
The announcement comes as Emirates marks 30 years of operations in Kenya, underscoring the airline’s long-standing role in connecting the country to global markets. With its extensive network of nearly 150 international destinations, the move is expected to further enhance Kenya’s accessibility for tourists, business travellers, exporters, and diaspora communities.
New Schedule Optimised for European and US Connections
The new service adds an early-morning arrival and departure, complementing the existing double-daily flights and creating improved two-way connectivity, particularly for travellers linking onward to major European and US destinations.
Under the revised schedule, flight EK717 will depart Dubai at 00:55 hrs and land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 05:05 hrs. The return flight, EK718, will leave Nairobi at 06:50 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 12:50 hrs.
The additional flight has been timed to strengthen links with high-traffic routes to the UK, France, Norway, Italy, and the United States, improving connection times and providing greater flexibility for passengers.
Kenya’s tourism industry — which is targeting 5 million international visitors by 2030 — is expected to benefit significantly from the enhanced access offered by the expanded flight schedule. Travel agencies have previously noted that early-arrival flights help increase seamless same-day transit to safari destinations, coastal resorts, and regional business hubs.
Strong Passenger Demand Fuels Expansion
Emirates says the decision to introduce a third daily service is backed by strong performance on the Nairobi route, where its double-daily flights have been operating at “healthy seat factors” in recent months. The new service will be operated using a three-class Boeing 777, offering First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class cabins — a product Emirates operates exclusively on the Nairobi route.
The increased frequency is expected to cater to Kenya’s rising outbound travel demand, boosted by growing middle-class mobility, business travel linked to the Gulf region, and increased global connectivity for Kenyan diaspora.
Inbound travel to Kenya has also remained strong, with Emirates recording major traffic flows from South Korea, China, Thailand, Australia, and the United States. Since launching operations in 1995, the airline has flown over 6.6 million passengers to and from Nairobi.
Enhanced Connectivity With Kenya Airways
The new flight schedule has been aligned to integrate seamlessly with key Kenya Airways connections, expanding travel options for customers heading to regional destinations. Travellers will now enjoy improved onward access to Rwanda, Kilimanjaro, Mozambique, and Burundi.
More than 31,000 passengers have already travelled under the interline agreement between Emirates and Kenya Airways since its signing in 2023. The nearly equal split in bookings between the two carriers highlights balanced demand and the growing appeal of coordinated international–regional itineraries.
The strengthened alignment of schedules is expected to bolster intra-African travel, enhance regional tourism, and improve trade-related movement across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Cargo Capacity Expansion to Support Kenya’s Exports
Beyond passenger travel, the third daily flight introduces a major boost for Kenya’s export sector. The additional Boeing 777 belly capacity will add 280 tonnes of cargo space per week, supporting the movement of high-value commodities.
The early-morning outbound timing is particularly advantageous for Kenya’s perishable export segment — including fresh flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and chilled produce — which heavily relies on tight global supply chain windows.
Emirates SkyCargo, the airline’s dedicated freight division, will now offer over 1,100 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity in and out of Kenya, combining:
- Three daily passenger flights (from March 2026)
- Three weekly dedicated freighter flights
Kenya remains a major global exporter of fresh-cut flowers, and improved air freight capacity is expected to benefit farms in Naivasha, Eldoret, Nanyuki, and Thika, where same-day shipping to Europe and Asia is essential.
Strengthening Kenya–UAE Trade Relations
Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have strengthened economic cooperation in recent years, culminating in the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) earlier this year. The agreement is expected to expand bilateral trade, investment flows, and logistics partnerships.
Emirates has played a central role in facilitating trade between the two markets for three decades. Its expanded operations reflect the UAE’s growing presence in Kenya’s aviation, tourism, and logistics sectors.
Growing Local Presence in Kenya
In 2024, Emirates opened Africa’s first Emirates World retail store in Nairobi, bringing its signature modern, immersive customer experience to the region. The flagship store provides personalised travel consultation, product showcases, and booking support, highlighting Kenya’s importance in the airline’s Africa strategy.
The new Nairobi branch complements Emirates’ investment in digital transformation, customer experience, and global network expansion.
Bookings Now Open
Seats on the new early-morning service, along with the existing two daily flights, are already available for booking through:
- Emirates.com
- The Emirates App
- Emirates Retail Stores
- Preferred travel agencies
With the additional flight, Emirates is positioning itself to capture rising travel demand, support Kenya’s tourism targets, and expand regional and global trade flows through enhanced connectivity.
