Emirates expands to 45 destinations across southern Africa with partnership

The Dubai airline and Airlink will fly to destinations across South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe

Emirates passengers can now fly with Airlink to several destinations across South Africa and southern Africa. Unsplash

Emirates is set to fly to more destinations across southern Africa as part of a newly inked deal.

The Dubai airline has announced an interline agreement with Airlink, a privately owned partner of South African Airways, which gives travellers access to 45 more destinations across the continent.

Emirates passengers flying into Johannesburg or Cape Town can now continue their journey via Airlink to more than 25 domestic destinations in South Africa. Flights across southern Africa are also available for Emirates passengers to book, including to destinations in Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

What is an interline agreement?

An interline agreement allows passengers to book flights with multiple airlines via one booking. This means that Emirates passengers can book flights to destinations serviced by Airlink, even though these places are not within the Dubai airline's own network.

The Emirates and Airlink deal offers passengers the ease of single-ticket travel and one-stop baggage check-in when transferring from Johannesburg or Cape Town to any of the domestic destinations that Airlink operates to.

In South Africa, these include Bloemfontein, George, Upington, Nelspruit, Hoedspruit and Port Elizabeth.

Across the continent, destinations include Gaborone, Kasane, Vilankulos, Maun, Victoria Falls, Maputo, Windhoek, Harare, Lusaka, Ndola, Bulawayo and Livingstone.

“Emirates is pleased to partner with Airlink on a new interline agreement that will help us strengthen our presence and give customers more choice, flexibility and enhanced connections across 45 cities in southern Africa," said Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline.

Passengers can book flights with both airlines on Emirates website.

Emirates resumed flights from Dubai into Johannesburg and Cape Town on October 1, and to South Africa's Durban on October 8.