Dubai’s Emirates, Airlink expand partnership to codeshare agreement

Dubai carrier Emirates and Airlink have announced the expansion of their existing partnership into a unilateral codeshare agreement.

The agreement will grant travellers to and from South Africa access to more than 40 domestic and regional destinations across 12 African countries. The connectivity will offer competitive fares, combined ticketing and baggage transfers when connecting between both airlines.

The move comes in the wake of Emirates resuming its flights to South Africa and ramping up operations.

Emirates and @Fly_Airlink expand their existing partnership to a codeshare agreement, giving travellers to and from South Africa convenient access to more than 40 domestic and regional destinations across 12 African countries. https://t.co/W6fLCaLgAV pic.twitter.com/YGaFZjAl50

— Emirates Airline (@emirates) August 16, 2021

Customers travelling to South Africa can now transfer from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to domestic points like Bloemfontein, George, Upington, Nelspruit, Hoedspruit, Kimberley, Skukuza, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Sishen, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth, as well as points across Southern Africa like Gaborone, Kasane, Vilanculos, Lubumbashi, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Maseru, Antananarivo, Pemba, Tete, Maun, Victoria Falls, Walvis Bay, Maputo, Windhoek, Harare, Lusaka, Ndola, Bulawayo and Livingstone, among others.

Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer, Emirates Airline said: “Our new codeshare agreement enhances our service offering and flexibility for customers traveling beyond our gateways in South and Southern Africa and provides them unparalleled options for leisure destinations. We are committed to growing our operations in South Africa, and with the strong connection opportunities being provided collectively with Airlink, we hope to help jumpstart the recovery of the local travel and tourism industry.”

He added: “Our codeshare partnership with Airlink complements the valuable relationship Emirates has with South African Airways, which we eagerly anticipate to restart once the airline is back in operation.”

“We are delighted, honoured, and privileged that Emirates Airline has chosen Airlink as its Southern Africa partner,” notes Rodger Foster, chief executive officer and managing director, Airlink. “Emirates serves all of our source markets and together we are able to provide vital air access throughout Airlink’s comprehensive network of destinations within Southern Africa, and provide much needed connectivity, linking Africa with the world and the world with Africa.

“The tourism and air transportation sectors have been hardest hit by the pandemic and the associated lockdowns and travel bans, and as the world gets vaccinated, we expect the pent-up travel demand will be realised, and more customers will want to visit the special destinations that Airlink offers services to.”

“This exciting development is an overwhelming endorsement to Airlink. We are delighted, honored, and privileged that @Emirates has chosen Airlink as its Southern Africa partner.”
Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

Full Article: https://t.co/AVdsuobI32#AirTravel https://t.co/q8ukno6hFx

— Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) August 17, 2021

Customers can book their travel with both airlines on emirates.com, through online travel agencies as well as with local travel agents.