Emirates has announced the introduction of a third daily flight to Nairobi, commencing 1st March 2026.
EMIRATES TO OFFER THIRD NAIROBI FLIGHT
The carrier will serve the Kenyan capital 21 times each week – with the extra flight, thus connecting travellers to Dubai, and onwards to the airline’s vast global network.
The added flight complements Emirates’ existing daily schedule into Nairobi by adding an early morning arrival and departure.
This will enhance two-way connectivity with key European destinations, including the UK, France, Norway and Italy, as well as the US.
By creating easier access from key markets, the additional frequency will further support Kenya’s tourism goals, which aim to attract 5 million international tourists by 2030.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
EK717 will depart Dubai at 00:55 hrs, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 05:05.
The return flight, EK718, will depart Nairobi at 06:50 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 12:50 hrs.
A KEY AFRICAN DESTINATION
Last month, Emirates marked 30 years of operating service to Nairobi, since its inaugural flight to the city in 1995.
Since then, the airline has carried over 6.6 million passengers to and from the country,
The third daily service, operated on a three-class Boeing 777, will boost Emirates’ capacity and provide more access to the airline’s world-class product and services, including its First Class cabins, which Emirates exclusively operates in and out of the city.
The new flight schedule has been optimised for connectivity with key flights operated by Kenya Airways, enabling seamless onward travel to top regional destinations such as Rwanda, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mozambique and Burundi.
Excluding passenger travel, the additional flight will also open up more cargo to and from Kenya. It will provide an additional 280 tonnes of capacity weekly into and out of Nairobi.
The early morning departure will be particularly beneficial for the movement of time- and temperature-sensitive perishable commodities like fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.
