South African Airways and Turkish Airlines sign new codeshare agreement!

South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa, and Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye, have officially signed a new codeshare agreement, strengthening connectivity between South Africa, Türkiye, and key global destinations. The partnership was formalized on 04 December 2025 during a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland, held alongside the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) meeting and attended by senior executives from both airlines.

Under the agreement, Turkish Airlines will place its “TK” code on SAA-operated flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls, and Mauritius. In return, South African Airways will add its “SA” code to Turkish Airlines-operated flights linking Istanbul with Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Frankfurt, Paris, and London.

The partnership aims to enhance network expansion, improve travel options for passengers, and create new strategic route opportunities across Africa, Europe, and beyond. Ticket sales for the new codeshare flights will open on 01 March 2026.

 

Subscribe for updates:

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa.  

Airlink and Turkish Airlines sign codeshare agreement to boost connectivity across Southern Africa!

Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye, has entered into a strategic codeshare partnership with South African regional airline Airlink, set to launch on 01 August 2025. This collaboration is poised to significantly enhance connectivity between Türkiye, South Africa and Southern Africa by combining Turkish Airlines’ global reach with Airlink’s expansive domestic and regional network.
The new codeshare agreement allows Turkish Airlines to place its "TK" flight code on a wide selection of Airlink-operated routes throughout South Africa and neighboring countries. Passengers flying with Turkish Airlines into Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg will benefit from seamless onward connections to destinations such as Durban, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Windhoek (Namibia), Gaborone (Botswana), and more – all on a single ticket with simplified baggage transfers.
This partnership offers international and regional travellers greater flexibility, convenience, and travel options, while supporting tourism and business links between Türkiye, South Africa and Southern Africa. The integration of networks not only enhances the passenger experience but also strengthens the position of both airlines in their respective markets.

 online flight booking on TravelComments.com >> 

Zambia: Proflight Zambia signed its first interline ticketing agreement with a European airline partner!

Zambian privately owned regional carrier Proflight Zambia has signed its first interline ticketing agreement with a European airline partner. The new partnership with Turkish Airlines becomes effective in November 2024 and allows the Turkish flag carrier airline to issue tickets connecting its passengers seamlessly to Proflight Zambia's domestic and regional routes, making travel easier and more convenient.
With the partnership, travellers can now access Zambia’s vibrant destinations such as South Luangwa National Park and Livingstone, plus major destinations across Southern Africa on a single ticket, enhancing their travel experience.
Turkish Airlines is currently serving 53 destinations in Türkiye and 296 internationally across 130 countries.

 online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>

Turkish Airlines to resume flights between Istanbul <> Lusaka!

The President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced in December 2022 that Türkiye's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, is planning to return to Zambia. According the airline's website, a direct two-weekly service between Istanbul Airport (IST) in Istanbul and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka is set to resume on 26 March 2023. Flights will be operated on Sundays and Thursdays from Istanbul to Lusaka and on Mondays and Fridays from Lusaka to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines launched the route in 2018 and suspended it in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Istanbul 15:50 > 01:50+1 Lusaka
• Lusaka 02:50 > 14:40+1 Istanbul

online flight booking on TravelComments.com >>