The new schedule will bring the total number of weekly Emirates flights to Nairobi to 21, providing enhanced access to Dubai and onward connections to nearly 150 destinations worldwide. The service will operate on a three-class Boeing 777, with flight EK717 departing Dubai at 00:55 hrs, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 05:05 hrs, and the return flight EK718 leaving Nairobi at 06:50 hrs to arrive in Dubai at 12:50 hrs.

 

Designed to improve connectivity, the new early morning service aligns with key European routes to the UK, France, Norway, and Italy, as well as the US. It also complements Kenya Airways’ network, enabling seamless onward travel to regional destinations such as Rwanda, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mozambique, and Burundi. Since the interline agreement between Emirates and Kenya Airways was signed in 2023, over 31,000 passengers have benefited, with bookings almost evenly split between the two carriers.

 

The third daily flight will not only expand passenger capacity but also support cargo operations. An additional 280 tonnes of freight capacity will be available weekly, benefitting the transport of time- and temperature-sensitive goods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Emirates SkyCargo already operates three weekly freighters to Nairobi, and the new passenger flights will further increase total weekly capacity to over 1,100 tonnes.

 

Emirates’ presence in Kenya has grown significantly since the inaugural flight in 1995. Over the past three decades, the airline has carried more than 6.6 million passengers to and from Nairobi, facilitating inbound travel from South Korea, China, Thailand, and Australia, as well as ultra-long-haul routes from the US. Outbound traffic includes popular destinations such as Shanghai and Beijing, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Seattle, New York, and Washington.

 

In 2024, Emirates further strengthened its footprint in Nairobi by opening Africa’s first Emirates World store. The store offers an immersive retail experience, travel consultations, and booking services, reflecting the airline’s commitment to world-class customer service on the ground.