The route had been part of the airline's schedule for many years until the pandemic but has not been operated since then.

The airline will operate the route twice a week using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

This strategic addition increases Kenya Airways' London frequency to 10 weekly flights.

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, said that the Nairobi-Gatwick service will enable Kenya to significantly grow visitor numbers, diversify its tourism products, and scale up multi-destination travel across the country.

“These developments will deliver tangible benefits to our hoteliers, tour operators, and entrepreneurs in the broader travel ecosystem across the country. The ripple effects will be felt in employment, income generation, and in the continued diversification of our tourism economy.” She said.

“More importantly, it breathes life into the Kenya-UK Economic Partnership Agreement by enhancing the mobility of goods, services, investments, and people, thereby fostering stronger diplomatic ties between our nations,” she added.

Speaking at the launch event, Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the new route. "This inaugural flight to Gatwick is not just about adding a new destination; it's about opening more doors for trade, tourism, education, and strengthening the vital connections between Kenya and the UK." 

The new service is operated using Etihad’s next-generation Airbus A350-1000, a fuel-efficient, environmentally advanced aircraft offering a quieter ride, and the airline’s latest onboard product on key long-haul routes.

The Atlanta route launched with four flights per week, but high load factors and early bookings have prompted Etihad to fast-track expansion, with daily flights set to commence from November 2025. 

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer at Etihad Airways, said: “Atlanta is a dynamic city with deep cultural, economic and aviation significance. This new service enhances access to the southeastern United States while offering seamless connections across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Asia.

“With U.S. Preclearance at Zayed International Airport, guests can enjoy the convenience of arriving in Atlanta as domestic travellers. We’re delighted to bring our award-winning experience to guests travelling to and from Atlanta. 

“It also means we’re excited to welcome even more guests to our amazing home in Abu Dhabi. U.S. travellers are already curious about what the city has to offer: from beautiful beaches and fantastic theme parks to world-class cultural experiences and mouthwatering cuisine. The response to this route has been phenomenal – the strength of early bookings has been so impressive that we’ve already announced daily flights starting later this year. It’s a clear sign that travellers are eager to discover everything Abu Dhabi has to offer.” 

The deployment of the next-generation aircraft, originally slated for 1 July, was brought forward by a week.

Muscat is among the first few cities in the region to receive Emirates’ next-generation A350, joining a growing network that includes destinations like Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam and Amman as well as other points like Edinburgh, Mumbai, Tunis, Colombo and Ahmedabad.

The airline has so far welcomed seven A350s to its fleet and is expected to serve 17 destinations across its global network by the end of this year.

This new route marks a significant milestone in Ethiopian Airlines’ ever-expanding global network and strengthens the growing socio-economic ties between Ethiopia and Portugal.

Mesfin Tasew, chief executive officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, said: “We are truly delighted to launch a new flight to Porto, Portugal, reinforcing yet another link between Africa and Europe. We are dedicated to enhancing our passengers’ convenience in traveling across the globe in a seamless connection and delivering our renowned award-winning services. This new route is beyond a connection between Addis Ababa and Porto. It is a bridge between Africa and Europe.” He added, “As we expand our global network, we remain committed to delivering our signature Ethiopian hospitality and reliable service to every corner of the world we fly to.”

The service will operate four times a week with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: "As we continue to grow Etihad's footprint globally, our focus remains simple: to directly link more places to Abu Dhabi and warmly welcome more visitors to experience our beautiful home and the UAE's capital.

“We've already celebrated inaugural flights to several new destinations this year and continue to add routes that matter to our guests. We are pleased to announce Krakow and Salalah, which each bring something special to our network – from UNESCO-listed heritage in Poland to refreshing green landscapes in Oman during the Khareef season."

Since 2023, the two airlines have jointly operated flights between Istanbul and Riga under a codeshare arrangement. This latest expansion builds on that foundation, allowing both carriers to tap into new markets, broaden their route networks, and enhance connectivity for their passengers.

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi, said: “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with airBaltic. This expanded codeshare agreement reflects our commitment to offering more travel options and improved connectivity for our passengers. As the airline flying to more countries than any other, we will continue bridging continents and cultures through strategic collaborations and a growing network.”

The service will be operated by a four-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Adnan Kazim, deputy president and chief commercial officer, Emirates Airline, said: “We are excited to launch our new daily service to Shenzhen – one of China’s most dynamic and innovative cities. This milestone reflects Emirates’ ongoing commitment to strengthening our presence in the Chinese mainland and supporting the country’s trade and tourism objectives. It is also aligned with the strengthening of China-UAE relations, and a strategic move to seamlessly connect the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s innovation corridor - an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub that aims to attract global innovation resources, through our flights.

We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Shenzhen Airport Group and our local partners for their support in making this launch possible. We look forward to connecting more travellers and businesses between Shenzhen and Dubai and across our growing network.”

The national flag carrier will operate 14 weekly flights from Stansted to meet high demand for flights to Türkiye, home to Istanbul Airport, the world’s most connected hub. 

With the addition of Stansted Airport, Turkish Airlines expands its UK network to six airports, complementing its existing operations from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. The carrier also serves the Irish market through Dublin Airport.

The new service marks the sixth Russian city to be served directly from Sharjah, alongside Moscow, Kazan, Samara, Ufa, and Yekaterinburg, further expanding Air Arabia’s network in the country.

Adel Al Ali, Group chief executive officer of Air Arabia, said: "We are glad to inaugurate our non-stop flights to Sochi, further strengthening our connectivity with Russia. This expansion not only provides our customers with a convenient and affordable air travel option between the UAE and Russia but also further strengthening tourism and trade ties between both nations. Sochi complements our growing network in the country and reflects our ongoing commitment to offering more travel opportunities to our customers."

"Today, Sochi is actively developing as an international hub, attracting more and more foreign tourists and offering extensive travel opportunities for Russian citizens. The United Arab Emirates ranks among the top destinations served by the airport. The Emirate of Sharjah will become the third city in the UAE connected to Sochi Airport’s route network, once again confirming the growth and strengthening of ties between our countries. Thanks to Air Arabia’s wide route network, travelers will benefit from convenient connections to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, significantly expanding their international travel options," Alexey Starostin, CEO Aerod, managing company of Sochi airport.