Emirates to Launch Next-Gen A350 on Third Daily Cape Town Route, Elevating Premium Options
The Cape Town market is set for a major upgrade as Emirates introduces its state-of-the-art A350 aircraft on a new third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town, effective 1 July 2026. This strategic move marks the first time Emirates’ latest aircraft type will serve the South African city, bringing a fresh dimension to the region’s connectivity and elevating the onboard experience for travelers moving between the Middle East and Southern Africa.
With this deployment, South Africa becomes unique on the Emirates network as the only African country to be served by all three of the airline’s flagship widebody types: the iconic A380, the fully retrofitted Boeing 777, and now the next-generation A350. This robust fleet mix, as highlighted by Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa, Afzal Parambil, offers exceptional flexibility and choice for customers using any of the airline’s three South African gateways, while consistently delivering the acclaimed Emirates travel experience.
The new A350-operated flight, EK778, will depart Dubai at 10:25 hrs, arriving in Cape Town at 18:05 hrs. The return service, EK779, will leave Cape Town at 20:00 hrs and reach Dubai at 07:25 hrs the following morning. This third daily frequency is strategically timed to enhance connectivity for both leisure and business travellers, offering optimal links to key global markets including London, Dublin, Mumbai, Brussels, Australasia, and major Asian cities. For Cape Town’s outbound market, the schedule provides seamless onward connections to Europe and the US East Coast, meeting strong demand among both regional and international travelers.
Emirates’ investment in Cape Town reflects the city’s status as a resilient and growing hub, with the airline’s double daily services having maintained consistently high load factors throughout the past year, particularly during peak seasons. Inbound travel from the Gulf Cooperation Council region continues to surge, driven by both tourism and business interests, while outbound traffic to Europe and North America remains robust. The introduction of the A350 is expected to further stimulate demand, offering passengers access to the airline’s Premium Economy and the latest Business and Economy Class cabins, setting new standards for comfort and service on this route.
This latest addition also aligns with Emirates’ broader network strategy, which has seen the rapid rollout of retrofitted Boeing 777s and new A350s to other high-demand destinations worldwide. By July 2026, Emirates plans to feature its Premium Economy on more than 84 routes, underscoring a strong commitment to providing a premium and consistent inflight experience across its global footprint. For the Cape Town market, this means travelers can now enjoy the airline’s most advanced onboard products, including enhanced seating, upgraded amenities, and cutting-edge digital entertainment, whether flying for business or leisure.
The move is poised to boost Cape Town’s international profile, improving its accessibility and appeal for high-value tourists, corporate travelers, and diaspora visitors alike. For Africa’s travel sector, Emirates’ decision to deploy its latest aircraft and product offerings to Cape Town signals continued confidence in the region’s growth potential and sets a new benchmark in air service quality. This development is likely to spur competitive responses and product upgrades from other international and regional carriers serving Southern Africa, benefitting the broader tourism and aviation landscape.
As global travel patterns evolve, Cape Town stands out as a key beneficiary of Emirates’ strategy to invest in next-generation aircraft and premium customer experiences—an approach that will likely shape the future of air connectivity and tourism development across Africa in the years ahead.
