Starting 1 July next year, Emirates will launch a third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town, a significant upgrade that adds over 600 extra seats per day on this popular route.
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The new flight (EK 778) departs from Dubai at 10:25 and lands in Cape Town at 18:05, while the return service (EK 779) leaves Cape Town at 20:00 and arrives in Dubai the next morning at 07:25.This late-evening departure offers both convenience and strong onward connectivity, especially for travelers heading to Emirates’ long-haul destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, France, Switzerland, the Philippines and China.
Strengthened codeshare with SAA
In parallel with the increased flights, Emirates is boosting its partnership with South African Airways (SAA) through an enhanced codeshare agreement.Signed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow by Emirates’ Adnan Kazim and SAA’s John Lamola, the agreement means travelers can now book cross-airline itineraries on a single ticket, with seamless baggage handling.
This means Emirates passengers can enjoy simplified access to SAA’s domestic network — including Cape Town, Durban, and Gqeberha — plus 13 regional African destinations. For SAA, the arrangement unlocks long-haul traffic from Emirates’ global hub, expanding reach into the UK, US, and beyond.
Lamola called the deal “a significant milestone,” highlighting the expanded connectivity as a major win for both trade and tourism in South Africa and across the continent.
What this means for travelers
- More capacity & flexibility: With the added flight, there are more options for both leisure and business travelers, especially those needing to connect to long-haul destinations via Dubai.
- Better connectivity across Africa: The codeshare with SAA boosts access to regional routes, making it easier to weave together multi-leg trips.
- Seamless travel experience: One ticket, one bag check — a much smoother journey for cross-airline travelers.
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