Emirates and South African Airways enhance codeshare agreement, building on 28 years of partnership

Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) have announced an enhanced reciprocal codeshare agreement, marking a new milestone in their 28-year partnership. Key Highlights:

Expanded Connectivity:
- Emirates customers can now seamlessly travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
- Access to 13 regional destinations in Africa, including Accra, Abidjan, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Windhoek, Lagos, Lusaka, Harare, Victoria Falls, Lubumbashi, Botswana, and Mauritius.

Benefits for Travelers:
- Single ticket fare and hassle-free baggage handling across both airlines.
- Enhanced feeder traffic from South Africa and regional markets, plus long-haul connections from the UK and US.

Strengthened Partnership:
- Builds on the existing codeshare that already gives SAA customers access to Dubai and 68 global destinations via Emirates.
- Since January 2025, over 45,000 passengers have benefited from the partnership.

Leadership Statements:
- Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President & CCO:
“South Africa remains a cornerstone of our African network… partnerships like this are essential to serve our customers.”

- Professor M. John Lamola, CEO of SAA:
“This enhanced codeshare marks a significant milestone… unlocking greater travel and trade opportunities across Africa and globally”.

Operational Expansion:
- Emirates will add a third daily flight to Cape Town starting 1 July 2026, operated by Boeing 777.
- Boosts seat capacity by 600+ seats daily, timed for optimal connectivity to Asia, Europe, and the US.

Future Collaboration:
- MoU signed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow includes exploring synergies in loyalty programs, cargo operations, and schedules.

Why It Matters
This enhanced agreement strengthens Emirates’ footprint in Africa while supporting SAA’s recovery and growth. It also reflects the airlines’ shared commitment to seamless travel, expanded trade opportunities, and sustainable connectivity across continents.