JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 5, 2026/APO Group/ –Emirates (www.Emirates.com) and South African Airways (SAA) today announced an expansion of their codeshare partnership, enabling access to nine cities and establishing the start of a reciprocal codeshare agreement between both carriers. The expanded partnership opens more destinations across central and southern Africa, simplifying connectivity for customers.

Since launching their codeshare agreement, Emirates and SAA have operated on a unilateral basis, with SAA placing its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, as well as interline access to 68 Emirates destinations worldwide via Dubai. With regulatory approvals secured, the new agreement will see Emirates place its code on SAA-operated flights, extending its network deeper into South Africa and neighbouring countries.

The expansion covers nine new routes including three domestic South African links connecting Johannesburg with Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, in addition to six regional routes linking Johannesburg with Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Gaborone (Botswana), Windhoek (Namibia), Lusaka (Zambia), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).

Emirates and South African Airways have been partners for almost 30 years, marking one of the longest partnerships in Emirates’ portfolio. Since 1997, millions of passengers have benefitted from the partnership, with frictionless, single-ticket travel. This extension to the codeshare underscores the ongoing commitment to providing greater access, convenience and choices to travellers from South Africa and neighbouring countries.

The move builds on Emirates’ longstanding commitment to providing reliable, consistent connectivity for passengers travelling to, from and within South Africa and the broader region. It also responds to strong demand for travel to South Africa from key international markets, particularly across Europe, while providing customers with greater access to destinations throughout southern and central Africa.

 

Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said, “This reciprocal codeshare partnership with South African Airways is a natural evolution of a relationship that has served our customers well for many years. 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.”

Matshela Seshibe, Acting Group CEO of SAA, said, “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. Through this reciprocal codeshare agreement, customers will benefit from a more seamless travel experience and greater choice across our combined networks. 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.”

Emirates in South Africa

Emirates has been flying to South Africa since 1995, starting with its inaugural flight to Johannesburg. Since then, the airline has scaled operations, increased frequencies and gateways to Cape Town and Durban and served over 20 million passengers to and from the market. Currently, Emirates operates 56 weekly flights across the three gateways. South Africa is also the only market on Emirates’ Africa network to receive all three widebody aircraft types: the Boeing 777, the Airbus A380 and the A350.

As part of its commitment to offering best-in-class products to travellers in South Africa, the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy experience is available on flights between Dubai and both Cape Town and Johannesburg.

 

Customers travelling on the new codeshare routes will benefit from convenient single-ticket bookings, coordinated schedules and through-checked baggage to their final destination.

Tickets can now be booked on www.Emirates.com, via travel agents or at Emirates’ retail stores.

Emirates Skywards is expanding how its global base of members can explore Europe, unlocking access to more than 12,000 rail destinations across the continent with the newly launched Skywards Rail (https://apo-opa.co/4wvGmPw).

 

With access to over 40 major operators across 12 European countries, Emirates Skywards members can now use their Miles to purchase rail tickets seamlessly via the dedicated booking tool (www.SkywardsRail.com) either online or via their mobile devices, in five different languages.

With the ability to search a variety of schedules, select cabins and ticket types, members can choose to pay fully with their Miles or by using a combination of Cash + Miles. Miles can even be used to purchase rail tickets for family and friends. Once purchased, e-tickets are conveniently delivered via email.

Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said:

‘Our members are looking for more flexible ways to use their Skywards Miles, and Skywards Rail is another step in expanding the programme beyond air travel. By unlocking affordable access to more than 12,000 rail destinations across Europe, we’re giving members the freedom to create seamless journeys using Miles, whether that’s travelling between major cities, connecting onwards from an Emirates or flydubai flight, or discovering somewhere new. It’s all part of our commitment to offering more choice, greater value and rewarding travel experiences at every stage of the journey.’

Popular routes, exceptional value

With unparalleled access across domestic, international and high-speed rail travel, Emirates Skywards members can unlock some of Europe’s most popular routes from leading rail operators including Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Trenitalia, TGV, Renfe, ÖBB, as well as extensive UK services such as Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Great Western Railway and ScotRail:

•        Heathrow Express starting from 4,700 Skywards Miles
•        Barcelona to Madrid from just 5,400 Skywards Miles
•        Rome to Milan from just 8,100 Skywards Miles
•        London to Paris from just 9,400 Skywards Miles
•        Berlin to Frankfurt from 4,100 Skywards Miles

Turning Miles into meaningful travel experiences

By expanding redemption opportunities beyond air travel, Emirates Skywards continues to evolve as a lifestyle loyalty programme, enabling members to travel more freely and seamlessly across Europe.

Since its inception in 2000, Emirates Skywards has grown at a rapid pace into a multi award-winning loyalty programme serving a global customer base. Having recently celebrated 25 years of success, Emirates Skywards is now used by more than 39 million members across 190 countries, with more than 78,000 new enrolments every week.