JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) have expanded their long-running partnership, introducing a reciprocal codeshare agreement that opens access to nine additional destinations across southern and central Africa, in a move aimed at making regional travel easier while strengthening Johannesburg’s position as a key aviation hub.
The agreement marks the next phase of a partnership that has lasted nearly three decades, allowing both airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights and offer passengers seamless travel under a single booking.
Under the expanded arrangement, Emirates will, for the first time, place its flight code on South African Airways-operated domestic and regional routes after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals. The move extends the Dubai-based carrier’s network beyond South Africa’s three main gateways and into several important business and tourism destinations across the region.
The new routes include domestic flights between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, as well as regional services linking Johannesburg with Harare, Victoria Falls, Lusaka, Windhoek, Gaborone and Kinshasa.
For travellers, the expanded partnership means single-ticket bookings, coordinated flight schedules and through-checked baggage, reducing the hassle of connecting between international and regional flights.
“This reciprocal codeshare partnership with South African Airways is a natural evolution of a relationship that has served our customers well for many years,” said Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer.
“By placing our code on SAA’s domestic and regional network, we are opening up seamless access to destinations across South Africa and neighbouring countries, backed by the reliability and consistency our customers expect from Emirates. It reinforces our long-term commitment to South Africa and wider region, and our confidence in the continent’s continued growth.”
The latest expansion builds on an existing arrangement under which South African Airways already places its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. SAA customers have also enjoyed access to dozens of Emirates destinations worldwide through Dubai.
The reciprocal agreement now gives Emirates customers easier access to destinations that previously required separate bookings, making travel across southern Africa more convenient for business travellers, tourists and the African diaspora.
For South African Airways, the deal forms part of its broader strategy to strengthen its African network while reconnecting passengers to major global markets through Emirates’ extensive international network.
“The expansion of our partnership with Emirates marks an important milestone in SAA’s strategy to strengthen connectivity across Africa while enhancing access to global markets,” said Matshela Seshibe, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways.
“Through this reciprocal codeshare agreement, customers will benefit from a more seamless travel experience and greater choice across our combined networks.”
Seshibe added that the partnership goes beyond aviation.
“This partnership is about more than connecting destinations. It is about connecting people, businesses and opportunities across the continent and beyond. By combining SAA’s growing African network with Emirates’ extensive global reach, we are creating greater value for our customers and reinforcing Johannesburg’s role as a key gateway for travel, trade and tourism in Africa.”
The partnership expansion comes as Zimbabwe’s aviation sector is also showing signs of recovery, with Air Zimbabwe recently resuming direct services between Harare and London after years off the route. The developments reflect a broader push by African airlines to rebuild international connectivity and capture growing demand for travel into and within the continent.
The announcement comes as international travel demand to South Africa continues to recover, particularly from Europe and other long-haul markets. Airlines have increasingly turned to codeshare agreements to expand network reach without launching additional routes, enabling passengers to access more destinations while improving aircraft utilisation.
Emirates has maintained a strong presence in South Africa since launching services to Johannesburg in 1995. The airline has since expanded operations to Cape Town and Durban and says it has carried more than 20 million passengers to and from the country.
Today, Emirates operates 56 weekly flights to South Africa using its Boeing 777, Airbus A380 and Airbus A350 aircraft, making South Africa the only destination in its African network served by all three widebody aircraft types. Premium Economy is also available on flights between Dubai and both Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The expanded codeshare agreement is expected to strengthen tourism, trade and business travel across southern Africa while providing international travellers with smoother access to some of the region’s fastest-growing destinations.
Tickets covering the new codeshare routes are now available through Emirates, South African Airways and authorised travel agents.
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