Nelson Mandela Bay has welcomed news that Emirates and South African Airways (SAA) are deepening their long-standing partnership with a new reciprocal codeshare agreement — a major win for travellers heading to Gqeberha and the wider Eastern Cape.
Announced ahead of the upcoming peak travel season, the expanded collaboration promises smoother journeys, better global access, and stronger regional connectivity.
Under the enhanced agreement, Emirates customers will now be able to fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, and Gqeberha, all on a single ticket with streamlined baggage handling. The codeshare also opens access to thirteen additional African destinations, supporting tourism and trade flows across the continent and giving the Eastern Cape greater reach.
For Emirates, the strengthened partnership means better access to feeder traffic from South Africa and neighbouring regions. It also makes long-haul travel more convenient for visitors from major markets like the UK and the US. Meanwhile, SAA customers will continue to enjoy increased access to Dubai through Emirates’ growing flight schedule, along with onward connections to 68 global destinations.
The agreement was signed at the 2025 Dubai Airshow by senior executives from both airlines. Beyond passenger travel, the memorandum of understanding also outlines opportunities for deeper alignment, including loyalty programme cooperation, cargo operations, network optimisation, and schedule synergies.
Both carriers emphasise South Africa’s role as a key aviation hub. For Nelson Mandela Bay, the partnership represents a meaningful boost — strengthening connectivity, unlocking new travel and business opportunities, and enhancing the region’s global access.
Emirates has reiterated the importance of South Africa within its African footprint, while SAA remains committed to delivering seamless travel and elevating the country’s position in global aviation.
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