Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) are set to strengthen their 28-year partnership with a new reciprocal codeshare agreement, signed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow. The deal will offer seamless single-ticket travel and baggage handling, giving Emirates passengers smooth access from Johannesburg to key South African cities—Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha—and 13 regional destinations across Africa.
SAA customers will continue to benefit from Emirates’ expanding network, including its 56 weekly Dubai flights and access to 68 additional global destinations through interline connections. More than 45,000 passengers have already used the partnership this year.
The MoU, signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President & CCO, and Professor M. John Lamola, CEO of SAA, also explores collaboration in loyalty programmes, cargo, and schedule alignment. Both leaders highlighted the long-standing success of the partnership and its role in boosting connectivity and trade across Africa.
Third Daily Flight to Cape Town
Responding to consistently high demand, Emirates will add a third daily Dubai–Cape Town flight from 1 July 2026, operated by a Boeing 777. The new service adds over 600 extra seats daily, supporting both leisure and corporate travel.
The additional evening departure is timed to improve connections to popular long-haul destinations including Thailand, Indonesia, France, Switzerland, the Philippines and China.
2025 marks 30 years of Emirates operations in South Africa, with the airline continuing investments such as enhanced schedules and the deployment of its retrofitted Boeing 777 featuring Premium Economy cabins.
