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Cape Town becomes the first destination in Southern Africa to welcome Emirates’ newest aircraft, boosting capacity and premium travel options on the Dubai route.
Emirates has confirmed that its newly announced third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town will be operated by the airline’s next-generation Airbus A350 from 1 July 2026, marking the aircraft’s first-ever deployment in Southern Africa.
The move makes South Africa the only African country served by all three Emirates aircraft types – the A380, the fully retrofitted Boeing 777 and the new A350 – further strengthening air connectivity between Cape Town and Dubai.
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The additional frequency comes amid consistently high demand on the route, particularly during peak travel periods, with strong inbound traffic from the GCC and outbound travel to Europe and the US East Coast.
The A350 service will feature Emirates’ latest cabin interiors, including its award-winning Premium Economy, alongside updated Business and Economy Class products. Emirates says the expanded fleet mix offers greater flexibility for both leisure and corporate travellers flying in and out of Cape Town.
Beyond South Africa, Emirates is accelerating its rollout of Premium Economy across its global network, with new A350 and retrofitted aircraft services launching to destinations including Copenhagen, Phuket, Rome, and Taipei.
By 1 July, the airline expects to operate its latest cabins on more than 84 routes worldwide, ahead of increased winter travel demand.
The third daily Cape Town service will depart Dubai mid-morning and return from Cape Town in the evening, offering improved connection options to key markets in Europe, Asia and Australasia.
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