Emirates and South African Airways Expand 28-Year Partnership with New Codeshare, More Flights, and Deeper Africa Connectivity

By Samuel Ouma

Two of the continent’s most strategically aligned carriers are taking their relationship to the next level. Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) have announced an enhanced, reciprocal codeshare agreement, marking a fresh milestone in a partnership that has spanned nearly three decades and connected millions of African travellers to the world.

Unveiled at the 2025 Dubai Airshow by Emirates Deputy President & CCO Adnan Kazim and SAA Group CEO Professor M. John Lamola, the upgraded agreement strengthens both airlines’ commitment to seamless travel, deeper network cooperation, and expanded global reach ahead of the peak travel season.

Seamless Travel Across South Africa and the Continent

The new codeshare framework significantly expands the travel options available to customers from both airlines.

Under the enhanced arrangement:

• Emirates passengers can fly on single tickets with through-checked baggage from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
• Beyond South Africa, the agreement opens up 13 additional African destinations, including Abidjan, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Windhoek, Lusaka, Lubumbashi, Harare, Victoria Falls, Lagos, Kinshasa, Botswana, and Mauritius.

The expansion captures transiting passengers from the UK, US, Europe, and Asia—markets where Emirates is consistently strong—and channels them through Johannesburg into Southern, Eastern, and West Africa.

SAA passengers, meanwhile, will benefit from streamlined access to Dubai on Emirates’ soon-to-be 56 weekly flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, plus 68 onward destinations worldwide on an interline basis.

The partnership is growing at a fast clip: 45,000 travelers have already used the Emirates–SAA cooperation since January 2025.

Leadership Voices: A Partnership Renewed and Reinforced

Speaking during the signing, Adnan Kazim described SAA as one of Emirates’ most enduring strategic partners:

“Since signing in 1997, our collaboration has created reliable connectivity for passengers to explore more of the globe with simplified, seamless travel. South Africa remains a cornerstone of our African network… We will continue to collaborate to unlock benefits for our mutual customers.”

SAA’s Professor Lamola echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of South Africa’s geographic and economic position:

“This enhanced codeshare marks a significant milestone. It reflects our commitment to offering seamless connectivity while strengthening South Africa as a key aviation hub. Together with Emirates, we are expanding travel and trade opportunities across Africa and globally.”

The MoU also outlines future collaboration in loyalty programmes, cargo operations, and better coordination of schedules and networks.

Emirates Adds Third Daily Flight to Cape Town

In a move that underscores the airline’s long-term commitment to the South African market, Emirates will launch a third daily Dubai–Cape Town flight beginning 1 July 2026.

Operated with a Boeing 777, the additional frequency adds more than 600 extra seats per day—a major boost for tourism, business, and trade at a time when demand remains exceptionally high.

The new service:

• EK778 departs Dubai at 10:25 hrs, arriving in Cape Town at 18:05 hrs
• EK779 departs Cape Town at 20:00 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 07:25 hrs the next day

The evening Cape Town departure offers ideal connections to Thailand, Indonesia, France, Switzerland, China, the Philippines, and several East Asian gateways.

Emirates says passenger loads on its two existing daily Cape Town flights have been “unwaveringly high,” driven by:

• Rising inbound tourism from the GCC and UAE
• Strong outbound traffic to Europe and the US
• Growing corporate demand into Asia

30 Years of Operations, Renewed Investment in South Africa

This year marks Emirates’ 30th anniversary in South Africa, and 2025 has seen a surge of operational investments and service upgrades:

• A fourth daily Johannesburg flight, enhancing morning connectivity
• Deployment of the first retrofitted Boeing 777 in Africa, featuring
  • Emirates’ latest cabin interiors
  • Enhanced Business and Economy
  • And the much-praised Premium Economy, often compared to business class on other airlines

The airline says its sustained growth reflects long-term demand and South Africa’s continued importance as a global aviation and tourism hub.

A Stronger Travel Ecosystem for Africa

The renewed Emirates–SAA cooperation strengthens Africa’s aviation ecosystem at a time when the continent is seeing strong recovery in tourism, business travel, and cargo movement.

Combined, the carriers bring together:

• Extensive global reach
• Deep regional networks
• Strong brand loyalty
• Robust operational experience

The partnership enhances options for travellers, builds confidence among global investors and tourists, and contributes to regional economic growth.

Travelers can book Emirates–SAA codeshare or interline flights on emirates.com, flysaa.com, or through travel agents.