British Airways has flown the Airbus A380 from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) since 2019. Due to hot but not boiling weather, it has usually done so during the winter. The airline had intended to fly the superjumbo to DXB in winter 2026/2027 too, but that plan has now changed.
DXB is a major local market from London, particularly for tourism. In 2025, booking data shows that more than 2.1 million passengers only flew between the UK capital’s various airports and the ever-popular destination in the Gulf. They did not fly elsewhere. Spread equally but unfairly over the full year, more than 5,700 people traveled locally each day.
Due to the ongoing war in Iran, the oneworld member’s Middle Eastern route network is currently a shadow of what was originally scheduled. Various links remain suspended, and it has just deferred the return of services to Abu Dhabi and Bahrain until 2027.
DXB is affected, too. BA’s flights have not operated to the Middle East’s busiest airport since March 2026, which was shortly after the war began. When writing, the plan is for BA to resume flying from LHR to DXB on October 25, which is when Northern Hemisphere airlines switch to winter schedules based on IATA slot seasons.
BA had planned three daily flights for winter 2026/2027, which is the airline’s usual frequency for that season. Two of them were to be on the 256-seat Boeing 787-10, while the remaining daily operation would use the 469-seat double-decker quadjet. However, the overall frequency has now changed. Depending on the week, only one to two daily flights will now be available, neither on the superjumbo. Generally, only the 787 will operate (including other variants), but that type will coexist with the 777-200ER at times.
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Let’s narrow the focus to November 2026 to February 2027. In this period, Cirium Diio data shows that BA now schedules five daily departures on the A380 from LHR. The type will have two daily flights to Miami International Airport (MIA) and a daily offering to O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), serving Johannesburg, along with San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). The type will return to SIN in September 2026 for the first time since last May.
Compared to November 2025 to February 2026, BA’s A380 flights have been reduced by 28%. This means the carrier will drop from being the world’s third-largest superjumbo operator for flights to sixth. This reduction is driven by the airline reconfiguring and updating the cabins of its 12-strong subfleet. The type’s capacity will be reduced from 469 seats to just 421. 88 economy seats are being removed, which provides space for 13 more business suites (the latest cabin) and 29 more premium economy seats. The subfleet will have much-needed new cabins and become even more premium.
In the upcoming winter, BA will fly the A380 to four destinations from LHR. Last winter, six destinations saw the equipment: DXB, JNB (twice daily, rather than the daily offering now), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), MIA, SFO, and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD; until early November).
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BA, Emirates, and Royal Brunei all fly between the UK capital and DXB. Royal Brunei’s one-stop offering from LHR back to Bandar Seri Begawan via DXB is set to resume in October. BA and Etihad Airways operate between LHR and Abu Dhabi (although BA is now due to return there in January 2027). Air Arabia now operates between Sharjah and London Gatwick Airport (LGW). Despite only recently beginning this route, the carrier has already confirmed a third-daily flight, with the A321LR operating all services.
Let’s focus on Emirates, which serves LHR, LGW, and London Stansted Airport (STN). The Gulf giant plans 12 daily passenger flights this winter: six to LHR, four to LGW, and two to STN. Many passengers connect elsewhere via DXB. However, Emirates plays a critical role in the local London-DXB traffic (remember, 2.1 million or so passengers last year), and its sheer dominance (12 daily flights!) mean that it charges a hefty premium. From December 2026, nine of the 12 daily departures are scheduled on the A380.
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