Emirates to operate 14 extra Dubai-Durban flights over festive season

Emirates will add 14 extra flights between Dubai and Durban during December 2026 and January 2027 to cater for higher demand over the festive period. The airline announced the move on Tuesday, saying it will give passengers more flexibility to visit family and friends or travel for year-end holidays.

Second daily service on selected dates

A second daily service will operate on the route from 17 to 23 December 2026 and from 2 to 8 January 2027, using a three-class Boeing 777 aircraft. The additional flights will run alongside Emirates’ regular daily services, EK775 and EK776, which will continue as scheduled.

The new flight, EK2535, will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30. The return flight, EK2536, will leave Durban at 12:15 and land in Dubai at 22:30.

The carrier expects the extra capacity to provide greater choice for passengers travelling during one of the busiest times of the year, especially those returning home for the holidays or visiting South Africa during its summer season.

Wider network access and popular destinations

The additional services will also give passengers from Durban better access to Emirates’ global network of more than 140 destinations via Dubai. According to the airline, the most popular destinations for Durban travellers in December include Dubai, Thailand, Indonesia, India, France and the United Kingdom. The increased frequency is intended to offer more travel options for passengers connecting to these locations over the year-end period.

Boost for Durban’s tourism sector

Emirates said the added flights will help support Durban’s tourism industry by making the city more accessible to international visitors. The South African city attracted 1.2 million visitors during the previous festive season, helped by its beaches, summer weather, cultural attractions and entertainment events. The airline expects the extra capacity to create more opportunities for tourists from Europe and other Northern Hemisphere markets seeking warmer destinations during winter.

Visitors from countries such as India, China, Indonesia and Mexico could also benefit from South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorization arrangements, Emirates noted.

Flexible booking and travel insurance

Emirates said it has introduced flexible booking policies to help passengers manage changes to their travel plans. These include unlimited free date changes across all cabin classes for tickets booked to Dubai, and one free date change for travel to other destinations on its network, subject to applicable booking conditions. Passengers can also use the airline’s Hold My Fare service to reserve a ticket price for 24 hours without an additional fee while finalising their travel arrangements. The carrier also said it is offering reduced refund fees.

Travellers from South Africa and 26 other eligible countries can purchase Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover through the airline’s website or Manage Your Booking service. The insurance includes worldwide medical coverage, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and baggage protection. It also provides conflict-related coverage, including medical expenses of up to $25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days, subject to policy terms.

Tickets for the additional Dubai-Durban flights are available through the Emirates website, mobile app and travel agents.