Turkish Airlines adds six weekly flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town from October 2026

Turkish Airlines is adding three extra weekly flights each to Johannesburg and Cape Town, raising its South Africa schedule from 14 to 20 weekly flights. The extra Johannesburg flights start on 25 October 2026, followed by Cape Town on 26 October 2026. The additional services run through the 2026/27 summer season.

For travellers, this means more choice of travel days and more flexible connections via Istanbul to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

What is changing?

• Johannesburg: 7 to 10 weekly flights from 25 October 2026
• Cape Town: 7 to 10 weekly flights from 26 October 2026
• Total: 14 to 20 weekly flights

Which days do the extra flights operate?

• Istanbul to Johannesburg (TK 242): Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing 13:30 and arriving 22:25
• Johannesburg to Istanbul (TK 243): Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing 00:20 and arriving 11:25
• Istanbul to Cape Town (TK 46): Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing 13:05 and arriving 23:00
• Cape Town to Istanbul (TK 47): Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays

TK 243 leaves Johannesburg just after midnight, so check the departure date carefully when booking.
How long will the extra flights operate?

The increase is seasonal. The additional Johannesburg flights are scheduled until 27 March 2027, and the extra Cape Town flights until 28 March 2027. Outside this period, travellers should expect the current schedule of seven weekly flights per city.

Why is Turkish Airlines adding flights?

South Africa's Department of Tourism says the expansion is supported by growing demand: arrivals from Türkiye in May 2026 were 92% higher than in May 2025. South African Tourism and Turkish Airlines have also agreed on a joint destination marketing campaign for the route.

What does it mean for travellers?

Ten weekly flights per city make it easier to find a suitable departure day, and open-jaw itineraries (for example, flying into Johannesburg and home from Cape Town) become simpler to plan. Eligible passengers with a longer layover can also use Turkish Airlines' Touristanbul and Stopover in Istanbul programmes.

Note that the new flights arrive in Johannesburg at 22:25 and in Cape Town at 23:00, so plan your airport transfer or car hire pick-up accordingly.

What travellers should know

• Airline: Turkish Airlines, via Istanbul
• Routes: Johannesburg and Cape Town
• Change: three additional weekly flights per route (14 to 20 in total)
• Start: 25 October 2026 (Johannesburg), 26 October 2026 (Cape Town)
• End: 27 March 2027 (Johannesburg), 28 March 2027 (Cape Town)
• Type: seasonal increase, not a permanent change

 

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South African Airways and Turkish Airlines launch new codeshare partnership

Travellers heading to Southern Africa now have more flexible flight options thanks to a new codeshare partnership between South African Airways (SAA), the national flag carrier of South Africa, and Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye. The agreement officially took effect on 15 July 2026, with the first codeshare flights operating from 16 July 2026.

A codeshare allows two airlines to sell seats on each other's flights, making it easier to book connecting journeys on a single ticket and, on eligible itineraries, enjoy smoother transfers and through-checked baggage.

Under the new partnership:

• Turkish Airlines now places its TK flight code on selected South African Airways domestic and regional services from Johannesburg to:
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
• Windhoek
• Harare
• Victoria Falls
• Mauritius

• South African Airways places its SA flight code on Turkish Airlines services linking Southern Africa with:
• Istanbul
• Paris
• London
• Frankfurt

For travellers, the partnership offers easier connections via Johannesburg and Istanbul, providing improved access to destinations across Southern Africa as well as Turkish Airlines' extensive global network.

 

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Turkish Airlines adds more Cape Town flights from October 2026

If you're planning a trip to Cape Town later this year, you'll soon have a few more flight options.

From 26 October 2026, Turkish Airlines will increase its direct service between Istanbul and Cape Town from seven to ten flights per week, adding three extra weekly flights for the Northern Winter 2026/27 schedule.

For travellers, that's good news. More flights generally mean greater flexibility when choosing travel dates, improved connections and, in some cases, more competitive fares.

Why this matters

Turkish Airlines has become one of the most convenient ways to reach South Africa from many parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Instead of connecting through one of the traditional European hubs, many travellers now route via Istanbul, where Turkish Airlines offers onward connections to hundreds of destinations.

The additional Cape Town flights should make those connections even easier, especially during South Africa's busy summer tourism season.

If you're travelling from Cape Town, the expanded schedule also opens up more options for exploring Türkiye or continuing onwards to destinations across Europe, Asia, North America and Africa on a single ticket.

More seats during the busy season

The timing is no coincidence.

Late October marks the start of South Africa's peak summer travel season, when international visitor numbers begin to rise and flights into Cape Town become increasingly busy.

Adding three extra weekly services means more seats are available during one of the most popular times of the year to visit the city.

While the extra capacity may help ease demand, travellers planning to visit over December or January should still book well in advance, particularly if they're looking for the best fares.

Cape Town's growing international connectivity

The announcement is another sign of Cape Town's growing appeal as an international destination.

Over the past few years, several airlines have increased services to the city or introduced additional seasonal flights, giving travellers more choice than ever before. Improved air connectivity not only benefits tourists, but also makes business travel easier and strengthens links between South Africa and the rest of the world.

For visitors, however, the biggest advantage is simple: getting to Cape Town is becoming easier.

Bottom line

An increase from seven to ten weekly flights may not sound dramatic, but it gives travellers more flexibility and makes it easier to find flights that fit their itinerary.

If Cape Town or Türkiye is on your travel plans for the 2026/27 summer season, it's worth checking Turkish Airlines' updated schedule when comparing flight options. 

 

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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

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The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, is set to return to Durban in South Africa. Effective 16 June 2022, the airline will operate two weekly flights on Thursdays and Saturdays between Istanbul Airport (IST) in Istanbul and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. The airline is planning to increase the service to Durban to four weekly flights on Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the Northern hemisphere's winter season. We'll keep you posted!

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The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, will launch scheduled services between Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) in Lusaka in Zambia via Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on 13 December 2018. The airline will operate two weekly flights on Mondays and Thursdays (IST > DAR > LUN) as well as on Tuesdays and Fridays (LUN > DAR > IST). According to Turkish Airlines chief executive officer Bilal Eksi, the airline would gradually increase the frequency of weekly flights.

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Air Namibia & Turkish Airlines signed a codeshare agreement!

update (24 April 2017): According to routesonline.com, reservation for most codeshare service is currently not available; codeshare service supposed to start in April 2017.

The flag carrier of Namibia, Air Namibia, and the flag carrier of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, have signed a codeshare agreement. Under the new agreement, which will come into effect on 01 March 2017, Turkish Airlines places its "TK" code on Air Namibia's flights between Windhoek (WDH) <> Johannesburg (JNB) and between Windhoek (WDH) <> Frankfurt (FRA) and Air Namibia places its "SW" code on Turkish Airlines' flights between Istanbul (IST) <> Johannesburg (JNB) and between Istanbul (IST) <> Frankfurt (FRA). Also it has been considered that, when Air Namibia introduces flights between Windhoek (WDH) <> Istanbul (IST) in future, this codeshare agreement will be expanded by placing the "SW" code to include beyond Istanbul flights.

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Turkish Airlines to temporarily reduce flights between Istanbul <> Cape Town in 2017!

Turkey's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, will temporarily reduce its service between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town during the Northern summer 2017. From 25 March 2017 until 28 October 2017, the airline will operate five weekly flights instead of the current seven weekly flights to Cape Town. Turkish Airlines will also plans to change the operational aircraft from an Airbus A330-300 to an Airbus A330-200 from 30 May 2017.

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Turkish Airlines to introduce direct flights Istanbul <> Cape Town!

The flag carrier of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, is set to introduce direct flights between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town on 30 October 2016. The airline will operate daily flights to Cape Town on board an Airbus A330.

• Istanbul 01:40 > 11:55 Cape Town
• Cape Town 18:00 > 04:50 Istanbul

Turkish Airlines currently operates flights to Cape Town via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban. As a result of the new nonstop flight to Cape Town, the airline will increase the number of flights between Istanbul and Durban (via Johannesburg) from currently four to five flights a week, effective 31 October 2016.

• Istanbul 19:55 > 05:55 Johannesburg 07:10 > 08:25 Durban on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays
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Turkish Airlines to increase flights between Istanbul <> Durban!

The flag carrier of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, is set to increase its service between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban. Effective 31 October 2016, the airline will operate five flights per week instead of the current four flights per week between the two destinations.

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Turkish Airlines to temporarily increase flights between Istanbul <> Johannesburg!

Turkey's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, has announced that it will temporarily (11 July - 28 October 2016) increase flights between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg from currently seven flights per week to ten flights per week. The three new flights (TK163) will depart Istanbul at 21:05 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and will arrive in Johannesburg at 05:55 the following morning. The return flights will depart Johannesburg at 07:25 and will arrive in Istanbul at 18:00. Turkish Airlines currently operates its daily flights between Istanbul and Johannesburg as follows:

• Istanbul 01:30 > 10:20 Johannesburg
• Johannesburg 18:45 > 05:20 Istanbul

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Turkish Airlines set to introduce flights between Istanbul <> Durban!

The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, is set to introduce flights between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban via Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in October 2015. Turkish Airlines will become the third major global hub carrier to introduce flights to Durban; King Shaka International Airport (DUR) is already served by Emirates with direct flights to Dubai, while Qatar Airways has also announced the introduction of services to Doha, also via Johannesburg. Durban will be Turkish Airlines' third destination in South Africa after Johannesburg and Cape Town.

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Turkish Airlines to introduce flights Istanbul <> Maputo (Mozambique)!

The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, has announced the introduction of a new service between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul, Turkey, and Maputo International Airport (MPM) in Maputo, Mozambique, on 28 Oct 2015. The airline will operate three flights per week on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Passengers will have a short stopover in Johannesburg, South Africa, lasting just over an hour.

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Turkish Airlines to launch daily non-stop service to Cape Town!

The national flag carrier airline of Turkey, Turkish Airlines, will launch a nonstop service between Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) in Istanbul and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. From 25 October 2015 the airline will operate daily flights on board an Airbus A330 between the two destinations. Cape Town is currently served as a one-stop service via Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport (JNB).

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Air Namibia & Turkish Airlines signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Namibia's flag carrier, Air Namibia, and Turkish Airlines, the national airline of Turkey, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 March 2014. Through the MoU, the two airlines seek to enhance commercial cooperation and air traffic for passengers and cargo between Namibia and Turkey, to facilitate human capital development and training, coordinated network development, strengthen operating and technical capabilities of Air Namibia as well as an overall improvement of Air Namibia's service standards and efficiency levels.

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Turkish Airlines operates scheduled services to 40 domestic airports and 200 international airports (including 2 cargo-only destinations) in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. With 238 passenger destinations, the airline is the fourth biggest carrier in the world by number of destinations. Turkish Airlines has been a member of the Star Alliance network since 1 April 2008.

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