Emirates and SAA expand partnership – third daily Cape Town
Emirates and South African Airways have agreed to enhance their partnership with a reciprocal codeshare, signed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow on 17 November. The move will offer single‑ticket itineraries and through‑checked baggage, giving Emirates customers seamless access from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha, plus 13 regional African points, while SAA customers gain wider connectivity via Dubai. Emirates plans a consistent schedule of 56 weekly direct South Africa–Dubai flights from 1 July 2026; since January, 45,000 passengers have used the existing tie‑up. The MoU also outlines potential cooperation on loyalty programmes and cargo.
From 1 July 2026, Emirates will add a third daily Dubai–Cape Town service operated by a Boeing 777, lifting capacity by over 600 seats per day. The new evening departure from Cape Town adds an overnight option timed for long‑haul connections to Europe and Asia, supporting both leisure and corporate travel. Marking its 30th year in South Africa in 2025, Emirates has also increased Johannesburg frequencies and introduced retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft with Premium Economy, reflecting sustained demand into one of the country’s busiest tourism gateways.
Source: South African Airlines
