Air Arabia launches Gatwick-Sharjah route as airport network grows

London Gatwick is continuing a period of rapid route expansion with the launch of Air Arabia’s twice-daily service to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. 

The inaugural flight between the two airports took place on 4 July, a four-month delay to the originally slated start date of March 2026, owing to the war in Iran. 

Air Arabia’s Gatwick launch using A321neos

Air Arabia is deploying an Airbus A321neo on the route, which will become twice daily starting 10 July. 

The carrier will use Gatwick’s North Terminal, with the route aimed at both business and leisure travellers. 

Morning and evening departures will provide flexibility for passengers seeking to reach the emirate of Sharjah, which is less than 30km from Dubai. 

Air Arabia will be competing on the route with Emirates out of Gatwick. No other operators currently fly from the Sussex airport to the UAE, although Wizz Air does offer flights to Saudi Arabia. 

Air Arabia’s Sharjah service is one of 11 new routes launched from Gatwick this year, reflecting what the airport says is continued demand from carriers to operate from there on both short- and long-haul routes. 

Jonny Macneal, head of aviation development at London Gatwick, said: “Welcoming Air Arabia to London Gatwick is another important milestone in the growth of our airline portfolio and route network.

“The twice-daily schedule offers excellent flexibility for passengers and strengthens our connectivity to the Middle East, while expanding the choice of destinations available from London Gatwick.”

Gatwick adds new China and Canada links

The Sharjah service is being introduced alongside other significant network developments, including the return of Beijing Capital Airlines’ Qingdao service and new connectivity to North America.

The China route, which resumed on 26 June, re-establishes direct links between Gatwick and Qingdao, a key coastal city in Shandong province. 

Operating weekly through the summer season, the service forms part of a broader strengthening of UK–China aviation links, with further growth expected from other Chinese carriers as additional routes are introduced.

Gatwick, which is seeking to build a second fully operational runway, is also expanding its North American footprint with Air Transat launching new direct flights to Ottawa, marking the first-ever non-stop service between the airport and the Canadian capital. 

The seasonal route operates three times weekly, providing additional transatlantic capacity.

The Ottawa flights operate on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, with the seven-hour 15-minute service running throughout the summer season until 23 October 2026.

Condor adds to European network growth

European connectivity has also seen further expansion, with Condor recently launching its first UK service at Gatwick, connecting the airport with Frankfurt.

The German carrier is operating up to three daily flights, offering a mix of morning, afternoon and evening departures. The route provides onward connectivity via Frankfurt, one of Europe’s busiest hub airports.

Looking ahead, Gatwick’s long-haul growth is set to continue with AirAsia planning new services linking London with Kuala Lumpur via Bahrain. 

The operation will use Airbus A330 aircraft and is expected to provide onward connectivity to destinations including Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo and Melbourne, further expanding Gatwick’s reach into Southeast Asia and Australasia.