Emirates adds more Dubai-South Africa flights from July 2026

Emirates is expanding its South African network from 01 July 2026, introducing a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town and reinstating a fourth daily service between Dubai and Johannesburg. The move will give travellers more flexibility, improved connections and additional seat capacity on one of Southern Africa's busiest international routes.

Third daily Dubai-Cape Town service

From 01 July 2026, Emirates will operate three daily flights between Dubai and Cape Town.

The new service will operate as:

• EK778: Dubai (10:25) – Cape Town (18:05)
• EK779: Cape Town (20:00) – Dubai (07:25 the following day)

The evening departure from Cape Town is particularly attractive for travellers connecting onwards through Dubai to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australasia.

Fourth daily Dubai-Johannesburg flight returns

Johannesburg will also benefit from increased capacity as Emirates reintroduces a fourth daily service between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Dubai.

The additional flights will operate as:

• EK768: Johannesburg (10:05) – Dubai (20:15)
• EK767: Dubai (23:20) – Johannesburg (05:30 the following day)

The added frequency provides travellers with more departure options and greater flexibility when planning long-haul journeys.

Why this matters

Dubai remains one of the world's leading aviation hubs, making Emirates a popular choice for travellers heading beyond the Gulf region.

The additional flights offer:

• More connection options to/from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia
• Increased seat availability during busy travel periods
• Greater flexibility when choosing departure times
• Easier access to Southern Africa for international visitors

The expansion is also good news for tourism, making it easier for travellers to reach South Africa and continue onwards to destinations across the region, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Planning ahead

If you're travelling during the second half of 2026, the increased Emirates capacity could mean more itinerary choices and potentially better fare availability, especially when booking early.

Travel Tip: When searching for flights, compare all available daily departures. The new services may offer better connection times—or lower fares—depending on your final destination. 

 

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Etihad Airways resumes Johannesburg flights from June 2026

Etihad Airways will resume direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg on 15 June 2026, restoring an important connection between Southern Africa and the Gulf.

The airline will initially operate the route three times weekly using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The flights are already available for booking.

Why the return matters

The resumed Johannesburg service adds additional long-haul capacity on one of Southern Africa’s most important international travel corridors.

The route is particularly useful for:

• South Africans travelling to India and Southeast Asia
• International visitors connecting onwards to Southern Africa
• Business travellers heading to the UAE and Gulf region
• Travellers seeking alternatives to Dubai or Doha connections

The return of Etihad Airways also strengthens competition among Gulf carriers serving Johannesburg, potentially creating more fare options and routing flexibility for international travellers.

Outlook

While flights initially operate three times weekly, additional frequencies could follow if demand remains strong.

The resumed route is another positive sign for international connectivity to and from Southern Africa as airlines continue rebuilding and expanding long-haul networks in 2026.

 

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Emirates to launch third daily Dubai–Cape Town flight from July 2026!

Building on a year of consistently high demand, Emirates has confirmed that it will introduce a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town from 01 July 2026. Operated by a Boeing 777, the additional service will add more than 600 extra seats per day to and from South Africa’s most visited city, significantly boosting capacity for peak-season and year-round travel.

Over the past year, Emirates’ existing double-daily schedule to Cape Town has been operating at exceptionally high seat loads, particularly during peak travel periods. Inbound travel from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to grow, while outbound demand to Europe and the US East Coast remains strong.

The new flight, EK778, will depart Dubai at 10:25 and land at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town at 18:05. The return service, EK779, leaves Cape Town at 20:00, arriving in Dubai at 07:25 the following morning. The evening departure offers travellers another convenient overnight option, with excellent onward connectivity to top long-haul destinations popular with South Africans - such as Thailand, Indonesia, France, Switzerland, and key hubs across East Asia, including the Philippines and China.

Beyond leisure travel, the additional frequency opens new opportunities for business travellers, improving links to important Asian markets and helping strengthen international trade and investment ties.  

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Emirates to launch flights to Dallas and Seattle in 2012

Good news for all US-Americans. Emirates, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates based out of Dubai, will launch daily flights to Dallas and Seattle in the United States on 02 February 2012 (Dallas-Fort Worth) and on 01 March 2012 (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport).
Both services will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft offering the highest standards of passenger comfort, with luxurious private suites in First Class, lie-flat beds in Business Class and generously-sized Economy Class seats.
With a fleet of 157 aircraft and already the largest A380 operator in the world, Emirates currently flies to 114 destinations in 67 countries.
On February 1st 2012, Emirates will launch its 20th and 21st destinations in Africa, with a five times weekly linked service to Zambia and Zimbabwe.