Travelling from South Africa to Europe and beyond is set to become easier thanks to a new partnership between South African Airways (SAA) and Turkish Airlines.
The two airlines have officially activated their long-awaited codeshare agreement, giving passengers more flight options, smoother connections, and easier access to destinations across Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world. The agreement, which was signed in December 2025, officially came into effect on 15 July 2026, with the first flights operating from 16 July 2026.
For many South Africans, whether travelling for business, family visits, or holidays, the partnership could make international travel more convenient by allowing passengers to book connecting flights under one ticket.
A codeshare agreement allows two airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights. This means passengers can book a journey through one airline, even if part of the trip is operated by another airline.
For travellers, this often means:
- Easier flight bookings
- Better connections between destinations
- One itinerary for multiple flights
- More flexibility when travelling internationally
Instead of booking separate tickets with different airlines, passengers can enjoy a more seamless travel experience.
As part of the agreement, Turkish Airlines will place its flight code on selected South African Airways domestic and regional routes departing from Johannesburg.
These include flights to:
- Cape Town
- Durban
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- Windhoek, Namibia
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
- Mauritius
In return, South African Airways will place its flight code on Turkish Airlines services linking South Africa with several major international cities through Istanbul.
These include flights between South Africa and:
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Paris, France
- London, United Kingdom
- Frankfurt, Germany
This means South Africans travelling overseas will have easier access to some of Europe’s busiest travel hubs through Turkish Airlines’ extensive international network.
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport remains one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs. At the same time, Istanbul Airport serves as Turkish Airlines’ global gateway connecting travellers to hundreds of destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
By linking these two hubs, passengers can expect more convenient travel options without the hassle of arranging separate bookings for different parts of their journey.
The partnership also strengthens South Africa’s international air connectivity at a time when demand for overseas travel continues to recover.
Tickets under the new codeshare agreement became available from 15 July 2026, with the first eligible flights operating from 16 July 2026.
The two airlines have also confirmed that this is only the beginning of their cooperation. They will continue exploring additional route opportunities and closer network integration in the future, potentially offering even more destinations to South African travellers.
Matshela Seshibe, Acting Group CEO of South African Airways, said the agreement represents an important step in expanding the airline’s international reach.
“This agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening SAA’s global connectivity and provides our customers with enhanced travel options across key markets.”
Ahmet Olmuştur, CEO of Turkish Airlines, said bringing the two airlines’ networks together would offer passengers greater convenience.
“We are glad to bring together our complementary networks, thus offering our guests more convenient travel options.”
For everyday South Africans planning an overseas holiday, studying abroad, travelling for work, or visiting family, the new partnership offers more choice and greater convenience when flying internationally.
As global travel continues to grow, stronger partnerships between airlines like South African Airways and Turkish Airlines can help make international journeys simpler, while improving South Africa’s connections with important destinations across Europe, Africa, and beyond.
