Emirates has confirmed that its next-generation Airbus A350 will operate the airline’s newly announced third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town, marking the aircraft’s first deployment in Southern Africa.
The announcement forms part of Emirates’ broader strategy to roll out its newest and fully refurbished aircraft across key global destinations in Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. This expansion brings the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy cabin and its latest onboard products to a growing number of travellers worldwide.
For South African passengers, the introduction of the A350 significantly elevates the long-haul travel experience between Dubai and Cape Town. With this addition, Emirates now offers its full suite of aircraft on the route — from the iconic A380 and the fully retrofitted Boeing 777 to the technologically advanced A350 — providing travellers with unprecedented choice across cabin classes and flight times.
Commenting on the milestone, Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa, said:
“With the deployment of the next-generation A350 on the third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town, South Africa becomes the only African nation on our network to be served by all three aircraft types in the Emirates fleet. This diverse fleet mix provides greater flexibility for our customers, while consistently delivering the world-renowned Emirates experience on every flight.”
Expanded Global Connectivity with Premium Focus
Beyond Cape Town, Emirates has also announced new A350 deployments on daily services to Copenhagen and Phuket, further enhancing global connectivity ahead of an anticipated surge in winter travel demand.
By 1 July, Emirates will operate its Premium Economy-equipped A380s, Boeing 777s and A350s on more than 84 routes, underscoring the airline’s commitment to delivering a consistent, premium travel experience across its global network.
New Services and Flight Schedules
From 1 June, Emirates will introduce a second daily service between Dubai and Copenhagen, while third daily services to Phuket and Cape Town will start from 1 July. All three routes will be operated by the airline’s latest A350 aircraft, featuring its acclaimed Premium Economy cabin alongside refreshed Business and Economy Class interiors.
The third daily Cape Town service, operating as EK778/EK779, will depart Dubai at 10:25, arriving in Cape Town at 18:05. The return flight will depart at 20:00, arriving in Dubai at 07:25 the following morning. The additional frequency offers optimised connections to major global hubs including London, Dublin, Brussels, Mumbai, Australasia and key Asian markets, catering to both leisure and corporate travellers.
Emirates’ existing double-daily Cape Town services have consistently recorded strong load factors, particularly during peak travel periods. Demand from the GCC continues to rise, while outbound travel from South Africa to Europe and the US East Coast remains robust.
Further expanding its A350 network, Emirates will also introduce the aircraft on services to Rome and Taipei from 1 May.
