Emirates Adds Third Daily Dubai–Cape Town Flight with the A350 — July 2026
Emirates has added a third daily flight between Dubai (DXB) and Cape Town (CPT), effective 1 July 2026, taking the route to 21 flights a week. The new service is operated by the airline’s next-generation Airbus A350, bringing its Premium Economy cabin to more Dubai–Cape Town departures.
Schedule and frequency
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Airline | Emirates |
| Route | Dubai (DXB) → Cape Town International (CPT) |
| Change | Third daily flight added; Airbus A350 deployed |
| Effective | 1 July 2026 |
| New frequency | 21 flights a week (three daily), year-round |
| Aircraft | Airbus A350 with Premium Economy |
| Flights | EK778 (DXB 10:25 → CPT 18:05) / EK779 (CPT 20:00 → DXB 07:25), local time |
Airline
- Information
- Emirates
Route
- Information
- Dubai (DXB) → Cape Town International (CPT)
Change
- Information
- Third daily flight added; Airbus A350 deployed
Effective
- Information
- 1 July 2026
New frequency
- Information
- 21 flights a week (three daily), year-round
Aircraft
- Information
- Airbus A350 with Premium Economy
Flights
- Information
- EK778 (DXB 10:25 → CPT 18:05) / EK779 (CPT 20:00 → DXB 07:25), local time
From 1 July 2026, flight EK778 departs Dubai at 10:25 and arrives in Cape Town at 18:05 local time; the return, EK779, leaves Cape Town International Airport at 20:00 and lands in Dubai at 07:25. The third rotation takes Emirates to 21 weekly flights — three a day — between Dubai and Cape Town, operated year-round. The route is now flown by Emirates’ newest aircraft, the Airbus A350, which makes Cape Town the first A350 destination in the airline’s South Africa network.
What it means for travellers
Cape Town is one of Emirates’ most popular African destinations. The A350 deployment brings the airline’s Premium Economy cabin — which first launched in South Africa in September 2025 — to more Dubai–Cape Town services, alongside its First, Business and Economy cabins. Across its three South African gateways of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, Emirates now operates a consistent 56 flights a week to and from Dubai. For UAE-based travellers, the third daily service adds departure-time flexibility on a well-established route.
Sources
- Emirates Media Centre — Emirates arrives in Cape Town with a third daily service and its newest aircraft (July 2026) [Visit Source](Verified: 14 Jul 2026)
- Breaking Travel News — Emirates arrives in Cape Town with a third daily service and its newest aircraft [Visit Source](Verified: 14 Jul 2026)
- TravelDailyNews — Emirates launches third daily Cape Town service [Visit Source](Verified: 14 Jul 2026)
More UAE Travel News
OraVisa Travel Desk
The OraVisa Travel Desk reports on airline routes, schedules, and policy changes affecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports. Coverage is sourced from airline newsrooms, the GCAA, and UAE airport authorities, and verified against primary sources.
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