Emirates and South African Airways have expanded their long-standing partnership with a reciprocal codeshare agreement, giving travellers seamless access to nine additional destinations across South Africa and the wider southern African region.
The move strengthens regional connectivity while offering passengers greater flexibility through the combined networks of both airlines.
The enhanced agreement marks the first time Emirates will place its code on South African Airways-operated flights after previously operating under a unilateral arrangement. With the necessary regulatory approvals secured, the expansion allows customers to book connected journeys more easily under a single itinerary.
The new routes include domestic services from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, alongside regional connections to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaborone in Botswana, Windhoek in Namibia, Lusaka in Zambia, Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Emirates said the expanded partnership reflects the natural evolution of a relationship that has benefited customers for years, providing smoother travel across South Africa and neighbouring markets. South African Airways described the agreement as an important step in strengthening connectivity across the continent while improving access to global destinations.
South African Airways has already placed its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, with onward access to 68 destinations through the Emirates network.
Emirates has served South Africa since 1995, beginning with flights to Johannesburg. The airline now operates 56 weekly services to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and has carried more than 20 million passengers to and from the country.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
