Turkish Airlines and South African Airways (SAA) have entered into a new codeshare partnership to enhance flight connectivity between Türkiye and Southern Africa, offering passengers greater flexibility and convenience across both networks. The agreement was officially signed in Geneva by Turkish Airlines Chairman Prof. Ahmet Bolat and SAA CEO Prof. John Lamola, and will take effect from 1 March 2026.
Under this strategic arrangement, Turkish Airlines (TK) will place its code on South African Airways-operated flights to major African destinations, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls, and Mauritius. In return, South African Airways (SA) will feature its code on Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul to international gateways such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Frankfurt, Paris, and London.
Prof. Ahmet Bolat emphasized that the partnership represents a significant milestone in expanding Turkish Airlines’ footprint across Africa. “Turkish Airlines is proud to be the largest non-African carrier operating in the region. This partnership reinforces our sustainable growth strategy and offers enhanced travel options for our passengers,” he said.
Prof. John Lamola described the collaboration as a “strategic alignment” that supports stronger tourism and trade ties between Africa and Türkiye. “By joining hands with Turkish Airlines, we are creating reliable and competitive travel opportunities while contributing to economic development across both regions,” Lamola noted.
With 65 destinations in 41 African countries, Turkish Airlines continues to hold the widest network across the continent. Through this new codeshare agreement, passengers from both airlines will benefit from seamless connections to Turkish Airlines’ global network of 355 destinations in 131 countries—expanding accessibility for leisure and business travelers alike.
