Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) are strengthening their nearly three-decade-long partnership with plans to launch a reciprocal codeshare agreement ahead of the peak travel season. The enhanced collaboration will offer customers smoother connections, expanded network access and greater flexibility across both airlines’ routes.
Under the new arrangement, Emirates passengers will be able to travel seamlessly from Johannesburg to three domestic destinations—Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)—as well as thirteen additional points across Africa. These regional destinations include Abidjan, Accra, Botswana, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Windhoek, Lagos, Lusaka, Lubumbashi, Harare, Victoria Falls and Mauritius. The partnership will give Emirates access to increased feeder traffic within South Africa and across the continent, complementing long-haul connections from key markets such as the UK and the US.
The expanded agreement builds on the existing codeshare that allows SAA customers to access Dubai through Emirates’ soon-to-be 56 weekly flights from three South African gateways, along with 68 onward global destinations available via interline. Since January, more than 45,000 passengers have taken advantage of the partnership, underscoring the strong demand for coordinated services between the two carriers.
The agreement was formalized at the 2025 Dubai Airshow, where it was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Professor M. John Lamola, Group Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) also signals intent to explore deeper collaboration in loyalty programmes, cargo operations, and network synergies.
Adnan Kazim noted that the relationship between the two airlines is one of Emirates’ longest-standing partnerships and continues to be essential in supporting connectivity into and out of South Africa. “Since signing in 1997, our collaboration has created reliable connectivity for passengers to explore more of the globe with simplified, seamless travel,” he said. “South Africa remains a cornerstone of our African network, and we will continue to work with South African Airways to unlock more benefits for our mutual customers.”
SAA’s Group CEO Professor Lamola highlighted the significance of the enhanced agreement for both airlines and for South Africa’s wider aviation ecosystem. “This marks a significant milestone in our 28-year partnership with Emirates,” he said. “By expanding our collaboration, we are unlocking greater travel and trade opportunities across Africa and globally, ensuring our passengers enjoy world-class service and convenience.”
