Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is adding 14 flights between Dubai and Durban across December 2026 and January 2027, giving customers more opportunities to travel during the busy festive season. Whether heading home to celebrate with family and friends, escaping the Northern Hemisphere’s winter for South Africa’s balmy summer, or making the most of the year-end break to explore somewhere new, the additional frequencies will offer more choice and connectivity during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Between 17 – 23 December 2026 and 2 – 8 January 2027, Emirates will operate a second daily flight between Dubai and Durban, using a three-class Boeing 777. Flight EK2535 will depart Dubai at 04:00hrs, landing in Durban at 10:30hrs; the return flight, EK2536 will take off from Durban at 12:15hrs and land in Dubai at 22:30hrs. EK775 and EK776, the existing daily service, will continue to operate as scheduled. On all other dates, Emirates will operate one daily flight.
The additional flights will also offer Durban residents more opportunities to explore the world over the festive season. Via Emirates’ hub in Dubai, customers can connect to over 140 destinations on its global network, making it easier to plan holidays and discover new locations before ringing in 2027. The most popular December destinations with Durbanites include Dubai, Thailand, Indonesia, India, France and the UK, all of which benefit from seamless connections with the additional services.
With a full programme of festivals and gigs, beachfront fireworks, cultural and heritage experiences, and exquisite dining options, Durban is at its best in summer. In fact, 1.2 million visitors travelled to the city across the festive period alone, last year. Emirates’ additional flights will support the city’s inbound tourism ambitions, creating more opportunities for international visitors to experiences Durban’s unique and vibrant summer offering, particularly from destinations supported by the introduction of South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation such as India, China, Indonesia and Mexico. With convenient connections through Dubai from Emirates’ global network, travellers from Europe and other Norther Hemisphere markets can also trade winter’s colder days for Durban’s sunshine, beaches and festive-season atmosphere.
Emirates has introduced a number of flexible booking policies to account for last minute changes to travel plans, such as unlimited free date changes across all cabins on tickets booked to Dubai, and one free date change to anywhere else on the network. Customers can use Hold My Fare to lock in the ticket price for 24 hours, at no extra fee, while they finalise plans. The airline is also offering significantly reduced refund fees.
For extra reassurance, travellers from South Africa and 26 other countries can add Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover when booking on emirates.com or later through Manage Your Booking. The insurance includes unlimited worldwide medical expenses, emergency evacuation, and cover for trip cancellation and baggage delay or loss. It also provides conflict cover, with medical expenses reimbursed up to US$25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days, and it isn’t restricted by government travel advice.
Tickets are available now on emirates.com or the Emirates app, via travel agents or through online travel agents.
