Emirates airline has announced a significant expansion to its Africa network with the introduction of additional flights to Entebbe, Uganda; Addis Ababa in Ethiopia; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Since the inaugural flight to Cairo as its first African destination in 1986, Emirates has progressively grown its presence on the continent and now serves 20 passenger and cargo gateways, boosting Africa’s connectivity and air transport market development.
“Africa has long been a priority region for Emirates, and we will deepen our strategic focus of expansion and continued investment on the continent, as an important anchor for our future network. The introduction of frequencies to our existing points in Uganda, South Africa and Ethiopia help support the region’s growth and provide critical links using Dubai as a key gateway to emerging economies across Asia and the Middle East,” stated Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer.
Daily service to Uganda
Since October 27, Emirates ramped up operations between Dubai and Uganda from five weekly flights to a daily service. Operated via a Boeing 777-300ER, the additional flight will add 718 seats to and from Dubai-Entebbe every week, connecting to popular onward destinations from Dubai such as Canada, the U.S., India, and the U.K., to name a few.
As the only airline offering first class in and out of Entebbe, the additional flights will enable more passengers to experience Emirates’ unique experience with luxurious touches, a premium gastronomic selection of dishes and fine beverages, and one of the biggest screens in the sky, all in midst of comfort and privacy.
The move builds on Emirates’ two-decade-long commitment to Uganda. At the 2024 Arabian Travel Market, Emirates signed an MoU with the Uganda Tourism Board to encourage a diverse range of international travelers to experience the destination’s abundance of natural, cultural, and adventure attractions. The additional frequency will further support this growth as Uganda continues to invest in building its tourism proposition.
Daily flights to Ethiopia starting January 1
Emirates will also increase frequency in Ethiopia, with a daily flight connecting Dubai and Addis Ababa from January 1, 2025. Visitor numbers to Ethiopia continue to grow as the vision to make Ethiopia one of the top five tourist destinations in Africa by 2025 progresses. By boosting its flight frequencies, Emirates will provide more convenient access, particularly for travelers from the Middle East and the Far East.
49 weekly flights to South Africa
On March 1, 2025, the airline will also add a fourth daily flight to Johannesburg, which will introduce a morning slot to and from South Africa’s largest and busiest international airport. The additional flight brings Emirates’ operations back to pre-pandemic levels, with 49 weekly flights into South Africa, one of the airline’s most in-demand destinations in Africa. Once the additional frequencies are activated, Emirates will provide 161 weekly flights between African destinations and Dubai.
Read: Abu Dhabi Airports welcomes 21.7 million passengers as of September 30, 2024
Africa network grows
With 17 countries in Africa and a further 63 countries and territories globally, Emirates offers near-unrivalled connectivity, further amplified by its extensive partnership network. In Africa, the airline’s footprint expands to over 210 regional points through five codeshare and 18 interline partners, providing access to more regional points via frictionless, one-ticket travel and simplified baggage throughput.
For instance, Emirates signed an interline agreement with Royal Air Maroc in 2023, providing travelers with 18 additional domestic points in Morocco, such as Fez, Tangiers, Marrakech, and many others, as well as an additional 17 routes beyond Dubai on an interline basis.
In addition to offering access to smaller regional points across the continent, Emirates’ partnerships unlock access to unique and exclusive destinations too. Through its interline agreement with South African carrier CemAir, Emirates enables customers to visit stunning leisure points such as Margate and Plettenberg Bay, while Pro Flight Zambia unlocks a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience in Lower Zambezi National Park.
Earlier this month, Emirates also made its much-awaited return to Lagos, connecting Nigeria’s economic hub to its global network with a direct, daily flight. Enhancing premium travel options, Emirates is one of only two airlines offering first class in and out of Lagos.
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