Emirates increases capacity on its Gatwick services

Emirates now operates the brand new Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft, the longest, and one of the word's largest commercial aircraft, on one of its frequencies to London Gatwick.

The new aircraft provides 364 seats in a three-class configuration, with 12 seats in First Class, 42 in Business and 310 in Economy - 74 more seats per day than the aircraft currently operating this flight.

A key feature available throughout the aircraft is Emirates' unique information, communications and entertainment system - ice - which offers more than 500 channels of on-demand entertainment from the latest films, to every No1 hit since 1952, news programmes and games, along with the ability to send e-mail and SMS messages.

The introduction of the aircraft comes after the recent opening of the airline's first dedicated lounge in the UK at London Gatwick. The Emirates Lounge, which opened in October 2005, is the largest in its network outside Dubai and is open to Emirates' First and Business Class passengers, and Gold level members of Skywards, the airline's frequent flyer programme. The lounge offers a wide range of comfortable seating (including a dining area), an extensive choice of hot and cold dishes and a full bar, shower facilities, along with a Business Centre with computer terminals, lap top points and wi-fi.

Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said:

"The introduction of this state-of-the-art aircraft onto our services to London Gatwick, coupled with the recent opening of the Emirates Lounge at the airport, underlines our commitment to offering the highest levels of service to our customers travelling to and from London Gatwick."

Emirates currently operates 35 aircraft from the Boeing 777 family, with an additional 58 on order, making the carrier one of the largest operators of the aircraft type. In addition to services from London Gatwick, the airline's 14 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are also used on selected flights from London Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow to Dubai, and from Dubai to Johannesburg, Manila and to Sydney and Auckland, via Bangkok.

Other features on board the aircraft include state-of-the-art sleeper seats in First Class which recline to form flat beds. They also incorporate a personal mini-bar, an electronically operated privacy partition and a 19 inch LCD monitor.

Business Class offers passengers comfortable seats with a pitch of up to 60 inches and an adjustable winged head-rest with six-way movement for optimum comfort. Economy passengers can enjoy more comfort than ever with roomy cabins, 34 inch seat pitch, and adjustable footrests and headrests.

Emirates' mood lighting system is also featured throughout the aircraft. It adjusts the cabin lighting to reflect the time of day, and is designed to counter the effects of jet lag.

The 777-300ER aircraft will operate Emirates flight EK011 which departs Dubai at 2.45am and arrives into London Gatwick at 7.20am the same day, with the return flight, EK012, leaving London Gatwick at 10am, arriving in Dubai at 8pm that evening (all times are local).