Emirates is deepening its investment in Africa’s aviation market.
The Dubai-based carrier and South African Airways (SAA) have expanded their nearly 30-year partnership into a reciprocal codeshare agreement, opening access to nine additional destinations across South Africa and neighbouring countries while strengthening Johannesburg’s position as one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs.
The agreement marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two airlines.
Until now, the partnership largely allowed SAA to place its flight code on Emirates services between Dubai and Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, giving passengers onward access to 68 destinations through Emirates’ global network.
Following regulatory approvals, Emirates will now also place its code on SAA-operated flights, allowing travellers to book seamless journeys from Dubai to more cities across southern and central Africa on a single ticket.
The expanded network covers three domestic South African routes linking Johannesburg with Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), alongside six regional services to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaborone in Botswana, Windhoek in Namibia, Lusaka in Zambia, and Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
For Emirates, the agreement expands its African footprint without launching new long-haul routes.
Instead of deploying additional aircraft, the airline can now market destinations deeper into the continent through SAA’s regional network, giving customers easier access to business and tourism markets across southern and central Africa while reinforcing Dubai’s role as a global connecting hub.
Since emerging from business rescue in 2021, the state-owned airline has been rebuilding its network, restoring routes and pursuing commercial partnerships rather than rapid fleet expansion.
Working more closely with Emirates gives SAA passengers access to one of the world’s largest international airline networks while increasing traffic through Johannesburg, its main hub.
“This partnership is about more than connecting destinations. It is about connecting people, businesses and opportunities across the continent and beyond,” Acting Group CEO Matshela Seshibe said.
The move also reflects growing momentum in African aviation.
Passenger demand has continued to recover following the pandemic, while airlines are increasingly relying on partnerships and codeshare agreements to expand their reach without the high costs of opening new routes.
Such agreements allow travellers to book a single itinerary, check baggage through to their final destination and enjoy smoother connections between carriers.
Emirates has served South Africa since 1995 and now operates 56 weekly flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The airline says it has carried more than 20 million passengers to and from the country over the past three decades, underlining South Africa’s importance within its African network.
For Africa, the broader significance lies in connectivity.
As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) seeks to boost trade and business travel, stronger links between African carriers and global airlines could help improve access to international markets, attract tourism and make it easier for businesses to move people and goods across the continent.
The expanded Emirates-SAA partnership positions Johannesburg as an even more important gateway between Africa and the rest of the world while giving travellers access to a wider network through a single booking.