Emirates And South African Airways Strengthen Codeshare Agreement For Enhanced Travel Options

Emirates and South African Airways are set to enhance their collaboration by establishing a reciprocal codeshare agreement. This development aims to improve travel options just before the busy season. The expanded partnership will enable Emirates passengers flying from Johannesburg to connect to domestic locations like Cape Town, Durban, and Gqeberha, as well as 13 regional destinations across Africa.

The existing partnership has already facilitated travel for 45,000 passengers since January. It allows South African Airways customers access to Dubai through Emirates' 56 weekly flights from three gateways, with onward connections to 68 global destinations. This agreement was formalised at the 2025 Dubai Airshow by Adnan Kazim of Emirates and Professor M. John Lamola of South African Airways.

Adnan Kazim highlighted the enduring partnership's success in providing dependable connectivity for nearly three decades. He emphasised that South Africa remains crucial for Emirates' operations in Africa. Professor Lamola noted that the updated agreement enhances South Africa's position as an aviation hub while expanding travel and trade opportunities.

In addition to the codeshare arrangement, Emirates announced a third daily flight on the Dubai–Cape Town route starting 1st July, 2026. This new service will be operated by a Boeing 777, adding over 600 daily seats to meet growing demand on one of its busiest African routes.

The new EK778 flight will leave Dubai at 10:25 and reach Cape Town at 18:05. The return EK779 flight departs Cape Town at 20:00 and arrives in Dubai at 07:25 the following day. This schedule offers better connectivity to major destinations in Asia and Europe.

Celebrating three decades of operations in South Africa, Emirates continues investing in this market. The airline has expanded services in Johannesburg and introduced its first retrofitted Boeing 777 in Africa, featuring upgraded cabins and a Premium Economy product.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) also explores further cooperation areas such as loyalty programmes, cargo operations, and network coordination. These efforts aim to strengthen both airlines' offerings and enhance customer experience.

This strategic move not only boosts tourism but also supports long-haul traffic from the UK and US into the South African market. By enhancing connectivity, both airlines aim to provide seamless travel experiences for their customers across various regions.

With inputs from WAM