Emirates has strengthened its South African operations by launching a third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town and introducing its newest aircraft, the Airbus A350, to the country for the first time.
The milestone was marked on 1 July when flight EK778 landed at Cape Town International Airport, officially increasing Emirates’ daily services to the Western Cape and giving South African travellers access to the airline’s latest onboard product.
The expansion comes as international travel demand continues to recover and forms part of Emirates’ broader investment in the South African market, where it now operates 56 weekly flights across Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
The additional Cape Town flight gives passengers greater flexibility when travelling between South Africa and Dubai, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
From Dubai, travellers can connect to Emirates’ extensive global network spanning destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and North America. The third daily service also provides more convenient connection times for both business and leisure travellers while increasing overall seat capacity between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Emirates, the new schedule has been designed to improve connectivity for passengers travelling to and from key markets in the Far East, West Asia and the Gulf region, while also supporting growing demand for travel into Cape Town.
The airline says the expansion reflects its long-term commitment to South Africa and follows continued growth in passenger demand on the Cape Town route.
Regional Manager for Southern Africa, Afzal Parambil, said the introduction of the third daily service demonstrates Emirates’ confidence in the South African market and further strengthens the airline’s long-standing relationship with Cape Town.
“The deployment of our next-generation Airbus A350 alongside the additional daily frequency underscores our commitment to providing customers with more travel choices and a superior flying experience,” he said.
The launch is equally significant because it marks the South African debut of the Emirates Airbus A350, the airline’s newest aircraft type and one that introduces several upgrades for passengers.
The aircraft operating the Cape Town route is configured with 312 seats, comprising 32 Business Class seats, 21 Premium Economy seats and 259 Economy Class seats.
For South African travellers, this means access to Emirates’ latest cabin interiors, including redesigned Business Class suites, spacious Premium Economy seating and upgraded Economy Class cabins.
Passengers can also expect quieter cabins, higher ceilings, improved ambient lighting designed to reduce travel fatigue, larger overhead luggage compartments and the airline’s latest generation in-flight entertainment system. Faster onboard connectivity and improved passenger comfort are among the key features introduced with the A350, enhancing the experience on the approximately 10-hour journey between Cape Town and Dubai.
The aircraft forms part of Emirates’ ongoing fleet modernisation programme as the airline continues rolling out its newest cabin products across selected international destinations.
Beyond offering travellers more flight options, the expanded Cape Town schedule is expected to support tourism, trade and investment between South Africa and international markets.
The additional capacity aligns with Emirates’ partnership with Wesgro, the Western Cape’s official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency. Announced earlier this year, the collaboration focuses on increasing visitor numbers to Cape Town and the Western Cape by promoting the destination across key international markets, including the Gulf region, India, and the Far East.
Improved air connectivity is expected to make it easier for international tourists to visit the province while also supporting business travel and creating additional opportunities for exporters that rely on efficient global transport links.
The Cape Town expansion coincides with Emirates restoring its fourth daily Johannesburg service, bringing the airline’s South African operation to 56 weekly passenger flights. Together, the increased frequencies reinforce South Africa’s position within Emirates’ African network while providing travellers with greater flexibility and improved access to destinations across the airline’s global route map.
For South Africans planning overseas holidays, business trips or family visits, the additional Cape Town service means more travel choices, access to Emirates’ newest aircraft and stronger connections to hundreds of destinations around the world through Dubai.
