Emirates to Boost Cape Town Capacity with a Third Daily Flight
Starting 1 July 2026, Emirates will increase its Dubai–Cape Town operations with the launch of a third daily flight, further strengthening one of its most in-demand African routes.
Operated by a Boeing 777, the additional frequency will add over 600 extra seats per day, enhancing both leisure and business travel flows between the Middle East and the Western Cape.
The new service, EK778, departs Dubai at 10:25 and arrives in Cape Town at 18:05. The return leg, EK779, leaves Cape Town at 20:00, touching down in Dubai at 07:25 the following morning.
The evening departure offers a convenient overnight travel window and is perfectly timed for seamless onward connections to major destinations, including Thailand, Indonesia, France, Switzerland, the Philippines, and China.
This strategic expansion reflects Cape Town’s rising prominence as a global tourism and investment hub, with Emirates strengthening year-round access for international travellers.
Airlink Launches New Johannesburg–Zanzibar Route
In a major boost for regional leisure travel, Airlink will inaugurate twice-weekly flights between Johannesburg (JNB) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) from 3 June 2026. Tickets are already on sale.
Flights will operate as follows:
| Route | Days | Departure | Arrival |
| 4Z010 JNB → ZNZ | Wed & Sun | 12:00 | 16:35 |
| 4Z011 ZNZ → JNB | Mon & Thu | 12:00 | 14:55 |
The service will be operated by the airline’s new Embraer E195-E2, configured for 136 passengers, offering improved fuel efficiency, comfort, and reduced emissions.
Speaking on the announcement, Airlink CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, highlighted Zanzibar’s accessibility from Johannesburg and the strong network connectivity across South Africa and the SADC region:
“Zanzibar’s proximity to Johannesburg puts the island within reach of our customers in Gauteng. These timings also support convenient connections to and from our broader regional network as well as our global partner airlines.”
This route is expected to cater to strong demand from both holidaymakers and regional travellers seeking a seamless link to East Africa’s most iconic island.
Emirates Adds Third Daily Service to Nairobi
Emirates will also enhance its Kenya operations with an additional third daily Dubai–Nairobi (DXB–NBO) rotation beginning 1 March 2026, coinciding with the airline’s 30th anniversary of serving Nairobi.
The new service increases the route to 21 weekly flights and will be operated by a three-class Boeing 777, notably reintroducing Emirates First Class to the DXB–NBO schedule for the first time across all daily rotations.
This expansion underscores Kenya’s rising demand for premium travel and reinforces Dubai’s role as a global gateway for East African travellers heading to Europe, Asia, and the Americas.