Emirates Expands Daily Service to Nairobi

Building on its 30 years of successful service to Kenya, Emirates is set to launch a third daily flight to Nairobi, starting on March 1, 2026. This new schedule will increase Emirates’ offerings to a total of 21 flights per week to the Kenyan capital, linking travelers to Dubai and its extensive global network of nearly 150 destinations.

The additional flight enhances the existing schedule by incorporating an early morning departure and arrival, which is expected to improve connectivity with major European cities, including the UK, France, Norway, and Italy, as well as routes to the US. This initiative aims to support Kenya’s tourism strategy, targeting 5 million international visitors by 2030.

The new EK717 flight departs Dubai at 00:55, arriving in Nairobi at 05:05, while the return flight EK718 leaves Nairobi at 06:50 and returns to Dubai at 12:50.

Recent data shows that Emirates has successfully operated its current flights at a strong seat factor, reflecting increased travel demand. The third flight will utilize a Boeing 777 in a three-class configuration, providing further capacity and access to first-class services offered exclusively by Emirates.

The flight operations also cater to cargo needs, offering an additional 280 tonnes of capacity every week for transporting goods to and from Nairobi, which is critical for time-sensitive products like fresh produce and flowers.

In a significant milestone, Emirates has marked 30 years of service in Nairobi, having transported over 6.6 million travelers since launching its inaugural flight in 1995. The airline continues to expand its influence and business within Kenya and beyond.

Passengers can book tickets for all three daily flights via emirates.com or through the Emirates app and various travel agencies.