Emirates and South African Airways Expand Codeshare Agreement

By Garth Calitz

Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) are preparing to advance their collaboration by initiating a reciprocal codeshare agreement ahead of the busy holiday travel period. This development strengthens a partnership that has endured for nearly thirty years, enhancing travel connections for passengers throughout South Africa, the African continent, and globally.

The enhanced codeshare agreement will enable Emirates passengers travelling to Johannesburg to effortlessly connect to three major domestic destinations, Cape Town, Durban, and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), with a single ticket and through-checked baggage. Additionally, Emirates travellers will have access to thirteen regional destinations across Africa, including Abidjan, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Windhoek, Lagos, Lusaka, Lubumbashi, Harare, Victoria Falls, Botswana, and Mauritius. This broader reach allows Emirates to attract feeder traffic from South Africa and neighbouring countries, while also serving long-haul passengers from the UK, the US and other key markets more effectively.

This improvement enhances the enduring partnership that currently allows SAA customers to access Dubai through Emirates' expanding schedule, soon offering 56 weekly flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. Moreover, SAA passengers enjoy interline access to 68 onward destinations globally. Since January 2025, over 45,000 passengers have already taken advantage of the connections provided by the partnership, highlighting the strong demand and strategic significance of this collaboration.

The latest cooperation framework was formed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, where Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Professor M. John Lamola, SAA’s Group Chief Executive Officer, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In addition to mutual codesharing, the agreement sets the stage for exploring further integration in loyalty programs, cargo operations, and the possibility of aligning schedules to improve network synergies.

Kazim emphasised the enduring partnership between the two airlines, stating: “The partnership Emirates inked with South African Airways was one of the first in our portfolio. 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, and one of the most consistently busy routes we serve. Partnerships like this are essential for us to serve our customers travelling in and out of the market.”

Professor Lamola shared this view, referring to the improved codeshare as “a significant milestone in our 28-year partnership.” He added that the agreement strengthens South Africa’s position as a key aviation hub while opening new avenues for travel and trade across the continent and beyond.

Alongside the codeshare announcement, Emirates revealed its intention to enhance its South African operations by introducing a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town, starting on 1 July 2026. This new service, using a Boeing 777, will offer over 600 extra seats each day on one of the airline's busiest routes.

The decision stems from consistently high load factors over the past year, with strong demand for both inbound and outbound travel. Traffic from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the wider Middle East is on the rise, while South African travellers continue to maintain high levels of outbound travel to Europe, Southeast Asia, and the eastern coast of the United States.

Flight EK778 is set to depart from Dubai at 10:25 and will land in Cape Town at 18:05. The return flight, EK779, leaves Cape Town at 20:00 and arrives in Dubai at 07:25 the following morning. The evening departure from Cape Town is well-timed for convenient connections to popular destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, Switzerland, France, the Philippines, China, and several locations across East Asia. For business travellers, this new schedule improves access to major Asian business hubs.

The year 2025 celebrates Emirates’ 30 years of operations in South Africa, a market the airline began serving in 1995 with flights to Johannesburg. This year, Emirates has strengthened its commitment through substantial operational investments across its South African gateways. In early 2025, the airline introduced a fourth daily flight to Johannesburg, offering travellers more flexibility with a new morning departure option. Emirates also launched its first retrofitted Boeing 777 on its South African routes. This aircraft, featuring upgraded cabin interiors and the acclaimed Premium Economy class, often likened to business class on rival airlines, has enhanced the travel experience for passengers flying to Johannesburg and Cape Town.