Emirates Airline announced on 20 October 2026 that it will operate a second daily rotation between Dubai and Durban on selected dates in December 2026 and January 2027. The carrier will add 14 round-trip flights—using a three-class Boeing 777—to meet strong festive-season demand from both leisure travellers and South African expats living in the Gulf. From 17 to 23 December and again from 2 to 8 January, flight EK2535 will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30, while the return EK2536 will leave King Shaka International at 12:15, landing in Dubai at 22:30. The airline’s existing daily service (EK775/776) remains unchanged, giving customers up to 14,000 additional seats over the peak period. The upgrade provides mobility planners with added flexibility for year-end assignments, fly-in-fly-out project work and holiday travel. Durban’s surge in international arrivals—1.2 million visitors last festive season—supports Emirates’ strategy of funnelling traffic through its Dubai hub, where travellers can connect to more than 140 destinations without changing airlines. South African tourism officials hailed the decision, noting that easier access from Europe and Asia via Dubai aligns with plans to diversify inbound markets beyond the traditional UK and Germany. Meanwhile, Emirates highlighted its flexible booking policies, including unlimited free date changes on Dubai-bound tickets and reduced refund fees—features that appeal to corporate mobility managers during a period of geopolitical uncertainty in the wider Gulf. Passengers originating in the UAE should expect brisk demand and consider booking early; economy-class December fares to Durban historically rise more than 25 percent after mid-November, according to industry-fare data. Travellers transiting Dubai should also monitor any operational advisories linked to regional airspace issues.
Source: Emirates Newsroom
