Emirates will operate daily EK 728 flights from Dubai to Cape Town beginning September 3 2026 departing at 03:05 and arriving at 11:40 local time. The return EK 729 departs Cape Town at 13:55 and reaches Dubai at 00:55 the next day. All flights utilize Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with 42 business class seats 56 premium economy seats and 262 economy seats.
Introductory fares start at 485 US dollars round-trip in economy and 1,890 US dollars in business class for travel through November 30 2026 when booked by August 10. The airline projects 240,000 additional seats annually on the route based on current load factors from Johannesburg services.
Emirates currently serves Cape Town with a daily stop in Johannesburg that adds four hours and 45 minutes to total journey time. The new nonstop replaces one daily Johannesburg rotation and increases overall Cape Town capacity by 22 percent. South African Tourism data shows Dubai visitors rose 31 percent in 2025 reaching 187,000 arrivals.
The route launch follows a codeshare agreement signed with South African Airways on June 12 2026 that allows mileage earning on both carriers. Emirates invested 12 million US dollars in Cape Town International Airport lounge upgrades completed in May 2026.
What this means for you
Book the September 3 inaugural flight now through the Emirates website to secure the lowest introductory fares before they rise on August 11. Select seats in rows 20 to 25 for extra legroom in economy at no additional charge during the first three months of operation. Connect onward to Kruger National Park via same-terminal Airlink flights arriving within 90 minutes of landing.
Business class passengers receive chauffeur drive transfers within 50 kilometers of Cape Town airport when booking through Emirates. Avoid checking bags on the return flight if connecting to European destinations because security screening occurs airside in Dubai.
Monitor Emirates app notifications for schedule adjustments during the September spring break period when demand historically peaks. The daily service operates year-round with no seasonal reductions planned through 2027.