6 August 2026

Emirates and SAA Shift to Reciprocal Codesharing Across Southern and Central Africa

Emirates will place its code on selected South African Airways services for the first time, extending the partnership across three domestic and six regional routes while strengthening Johannesburg’s role as a connecting gateway.

The reciprocal codeshare will connect Emirates’ international network with SAA-operated domestic and regional services from Johannesburg. Photo Credit: Emirates

Written by:

Phillippa Dean

Why this article matters
The reciprocal agreement allows Emirates to extend its marketed network across southern and central Africa through SAA-operated services, without introducing its own flights on the nine routes. SAA, meanwhile, remains connected to passenger traffic travelling through Dubai and Emirates’ wider international network.

Johannesburg sits at the centre of the arrangement, connecting Emirates services with SAA flights to domestic and regional destinations. For passengers, the integration provides single-ticket bookings, coordinated connections and baggage checked through to the final destination.

The expansion of the Emirates and South African Airways partnership goes beyond the addition of nine destinations. It changes the structure of the relationship between the two airlines, moving the codeshare from a one-way arrangement towards a reciprocal agreement.

Until now, SAA has placed its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, supported by interline access to 68 destinations across the Emirates network. With the required regulatory approvals in place, Emirates will now add its code to selected SAA-operated services, extending its reach through SAA’s domestic and regional network.

The new arrangement covers flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, along with regional services to Kinshasa, Gaborone, Windhoek, Lusaka, Harare and Victoria Falls. Emirates can consequently offer these destinations as part of its own marketed network without introducing additional services of its own, while SAA remains connected to international passenger flows travelling through Dubai.

Johannesburg sits at the centre of the expanded partnership, linking Emirates’ global network with SAA’s services across South Africa and neighbouring markets. The arrangement supports the airport’s role as a gateway for regional travel, while giving both airlines a broader range of connecting itineraries to offer their customers.

South Africa already holds an important position within Emirates’ African operation. The airline operates 56 weekly flights through Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, and the country is the only market on its African network served by the Boeing 777, Airbus A380 and Airbus A350.

For passengers, the practical benefits include single-ticket bookings, coordinated connections and baggage checked through to the final destination. Commercially, the agreement allows Emirates to deepen its presence in southern and central Africa through SAA’s network, while SAA gains wider access to travellers connecting from Emirates’ international services.