Emirates Announces Additional Daily Flight to Johannesburg
Emirates, the world’s leading international airline, is set to expand its operations between Dubai and Johannesburg by introducing a fourth daily flight. This decision comes shortly after the launch of a second daily Airbus A380 flight on September 1, 2024. The new daily service is scheduled to commence on March 1, 2025, utilizing the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which features three distinct classes. This addition will increase the daily seating capacity by 708 seats, enhancing the connectivity between Dubai and Johannesburg, South Africa’s premier international gateway.
The new flight, EK767, will depart from Dubai at 00:10 and arrive in Johannesburg at 06:20. The return flight, EK768, will leave Johannesburg at 10:15 and reach Dubai at 20:15. Notably, this service will be the first morning departure from Johannesburg among Emirates’ offerings. This expansion is designed to optimize schedule efficiency across Emirates’ extensive network, which spans over 140 destinations globally, including major hubs in Thailand, India, the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the strategic importance of this new service. ‘South Africa has always been a vital market for both leisure and business sectors. The addition of this fourth daily flight is a response to the increasing demand in the region and reflects our commitment to restoring pre-pandemic service levels, which includes 49 weekly flights across three different gateways,’ Kazim explained. He further highlighted the ongoing collaboration with South African authorities to bolster tourism and economic growth, aligning with the government’s goals to position tourism as a pivotal economic contributor.
The launch of this new flight also significantly boosts the cargo capacity, adding an extra 300 tons of cargo space each week via the Boeing 777. This increase will support South African exporters by facilitating the transport of key commodities such as fresh fruits, vegetables, chilled meats, dairy products, seafood, and fresh cut flowers. These efforts by Emirates SkyCargo play a crucial role in connecting local businesses with international markets, thereby stimulating the national economy.
In addition, the expanded service enhances connectivity for Emirates’ customers traveling to Johannesburg, offering access to an additional 60 regional destinations through codeshare and interline agreements. The longstanding codeshare partnership with South African Airways, established in 1997, covers 12 destinations via Johannesburg alone. Another significant partnership with Airlink further extends accessibility to 44 regional cities, demonstrating Emirates’ commitment to providing comprehensive network connections to its passengers.
Since initiating service to South Africa in June 1995, Emirates has grown to transport approximately 20 million passengers annually between Dubai and South Africa, underscoring the airline’s pivotal role in enhancing air travel and economic exchanges between the two regions.