Emirates celebrates 2 million passengers at London Stansted
Dubai airline has expanded its presence while strengthening links across Southeast England
DUBAI – Emirates has welcomed its two millionth passenger at London Stansted Airport, marking a major milestone for the airline’s third London gateway since services began in 2018.
The milestone comes as the airline continues to see sustained demand for flights between Stansted and Dubai. Emirates currently operates 14 weekly services on the route using Boeing 777 aircraft, connecting passengers with its network of more than 135 destinations worldwide.
To mark the occasion, one passenger travelling on EK66, Jeanne Fostel, was upgraded to Business Class and received Emirates Skywards Gold membership. The membership offers benefits including complimentary lounge access, additional baggage allowance, complimentary seat selection and bonus Skywards Miles.
Eleven other passengers travelling on the same flight were upgraded to Emirates Skywards Silver membership. The tier provides benefits including complimentary access to the Business Class Lounge in Dubai, additional baggage allowance and bonus Skywards Miles.
Serving Southeast
Over the past eight years, London Stansted has developed into an important gateway within Emirates’ UK network, serving passengers from London and surrounding areas including Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridge and East Anglia.
From Dubai, passengers can connect with up to 52 destinations across Emirates’ network in Asia, Africa and Australia. Around 30 percent of customers travelling from London Stansted have Dubai as their final destination, while the remaining 70 percent continue their journeys through Emirates’ Dubai hub.
Popular onward destinations include India, Australia, Thailand and Mauritius, giving passengers from the region access to a broad range of international markets through Dubai.
Expanding services
Emirates launched its London Stansted service with a once-daily flight in 2018. Following strong demand, the airline increased operations within a year by introducing a second daily service, giving customers greater choice when travelling between the UK and Dubai.
The airline now operates two daily flights between London Stansted and Dubai using its four-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The aircraft features First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins.
Emirates has also continued to invest in its passenger offering at Stansted. Premium Economy was introduced at the airport last year as part of the airline’s multi-billion dollar aircraft retrofit programme, with the cabin now available on both daily services.
In 2024, Emirates opened a dedicated 900-square-metre lounge at London Stansted following an investment of more than GBP 4 million. The facility can accommodate up to 125 guests, including First and Business Class passengers and Emirates Skywards members.
Jabr Al-Azeeby, Emirates’ divisional vice president, UK, said the two million passenger milestone reflected continued demand for the airline’s Stansted services since their launch.
“Stansted provides convenient access to Emirates’ global network for both leisure and business travellers, while our cargo operations also support businesses and industries across the region with greater export options to the rest of the world,” he said.
He also thanked London Stansted Airport for its partnership with the airline and said Emirates looked forward to welcoming more passengers in the years ahead.
Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s managing director, said the milestone underlined the strength of the partnership and demand for direct international connectivity from London and the East of England.
Since its launch in 2018, the Emirates service has connected the region directly with Dubai and, through the airline’s wider network, destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and beyond, he said.
Powell added that the opening of the Emirates lounge in 2024 further strengthened the passenger experience and demonstrated the airline’s commitment to the airport and the wider region.
Cargo operations
Emirates’ presence at Stansted also extends beyond passenger services. Alongside cargo carried in the belly hold of its passenger aircraft, the airline operates a weekly freighter from the airport.
Emirates SkyCargo transports around 25,000 tonnes of cargo to and from London Stansted each year. Shipments include pharmaceuticals, high-value goods, medical equipment and industrial machinery, supporting businesses and industries across the region with international trade links.
Customers can book Emirates flights through the airline’s website and app, Emirates retail stores and contact centre, as well as through travel agents.