Emirates announced on October 20 that it will add 14 flights between Dubai and Durban across December 2026 and January 2027 to meet peak holiday travel demand, Gulf News reported. The seasonal expansion will provide a second daily flight on the route alongside the carrier's existing daily EK775 and EK776 services, which will continue operating as scheduled.
The extra frequencies will run in two seven-day periods: from December 17 to December 23, 2026, and from January 2 to January 8, 2027. Operated by a three-class Boeing 777, flight EK2535 will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30 local time, while return flight EK2536 will depart Durban at 12:15 and land in Dubai at 22:30.
Emirates stated that the additional capacity provides expanded connectivity across its global network of more than 140 destinations. The airline noted that the flights support inbound tourism to Durban, particularly from markets eligible for South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorisation—including China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico—as well as travellers connecting through Dubai from Europe and the Northern Hemisphere.
To accommodate last-minute itinerary adjustments, Emirates introduced flexible booking policies. Passengers booking tickets to Dubai receive unlimited free date changes across all cabins, while tickets to other network destinations include one free date change. Customers can also hold fare prices for 24 hours at no extra charge, and the airline has lowered cancellation and refund fees.
Sources
- Gulf News · 2026-10-20
