Emirates increases capacity on its Gatwick services

INCREASING CAPACITY: Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, has increased capacity by more than 500 seats each week on its services between Dubai and London Gatwick, with the introduction of a new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on one of its three daily flights to London Gatwick.

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 No. 1 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. 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.

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.