Seen Here: Emirates is adding 14 flights between Dubai and Durban across December 2026 and January 2027, introducing a second daily service during two peak holiday periods. The move offers travellers greater flexibility while strengthening Durban’s international connectivity and supporting KwaZulu-Natal’s summer tourism ambitions. Photo Credit: Supplied
The additional Dubai–Durban services will operate during two peak travel periods in December 2026 and January 2027, expanding international connectivity and supporting KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism ambitions.
DURBAN, 20 October 2026 — Emirates is increasing its flight capacity between Dubai and Durban by adding 14 flights over the 2026/27 festive season, offering travellers greater flexibility while strengthening international access to one of South Africa’s leading coastal destinations.
The additional services will operate between 17 and 23 December 2026 and again from 2 to 8 January 2027, when the airline will introduce a second daily flight on the route using a three-class Boeing 777 aircraft.
The move is aimed at accommodating increased demand from passengers travelling to reunite with family and friends, South Africans heading abroad for year-end holidays, and international visitors seeking to experience Durban’s summer tourism offering.
Emirates said the additional flights would provide more options during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, while helping connect Durban with destinations across its global network through its Dubai hub.
More capacity during peak travel periods
The additional service, operating as EK2535, will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30. The return flight, EK2536, will depart Durban at 12:15 and arrive in Dubai at 22:30.
The airline’s existing daily services, EK775 and EK776, will continue to operate according to their schedules. Outside the specified additional-service dates, Emirates will maintain one daily flight between the two cities.
The expanded schedule gives passengers more departure options during the festive rush, when demand typically rises as families travel for holidays and international visitors seek warmer-weather destinations.
For Durban-based travellers, Dubai also serves as a connecting hub to more than 140 destinations across the Emirates network, opening up access to markets across Europe, Asia and other regions.
According to the airline, popular December destinations among travellers from Durban include Dubai, Thailand, Indonesia, India, France and the United Kingdom.
A boost for Durban’s tourism ambitions
The additional flights arrive as Durban seeks to strengthen its position as an international leisure destination during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
The city’s festive-season offering includes beach activities, cultural and heritage experiences, music festivals, live entertainment, fireworks and a diverse dining scene.
Durban attracted approximately 1.2 million visitors during the previous festive period, according to the supplied announcement, highlighting the importance of seasonal travel to the city’s tourism economy.
Greater air capacity could help support inbound visitor numbers by providing more opportunities for travellers to reach Durban through Dubai, particularly from markets connected to Emirates’ international network.
The airline also highlighted opportunities to attract visitors from countries including India, China, Indonesia and Mexico, alongside travellers from Europe and other Northern Hemisphere markets looking to exchange winter conditions for Durban’s beaches and warm summer weather.
South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation initiative is another development relevant to international visitor access, although the practical impact on arrivals will depend on implementation, traveller eligibility and broader travel demand.
For tourism operators, hotels, restaurants and other businesses serving visitors, increased air connectivity can create opportunities to attract additional customers during a critical trading period.
Dubai strengthens Durban’s global connections
Beyond point-to-point travel between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, the additional flights reinforce Dubai’s role as a transfer hub for passengers travelling between Durban and destinations across the world.
For leisure travellers, this connectivity can make multi-destination holidays more accessible. For families and business travellers, additional frequencies may provide greater flexibility when coordinating international journeys during the year-end period.
The expanded schedule also highlights the relationship between airline capacity and destination marketing: reliable international connections help tourism destinations compete for visitors, particularly during peak holiday seasons.
However, the extent of the economic benefit will depend on passenger demand, visitor spending and how effectively Durban’s tourism sector converts additional connectivity into bookings and longer stays.
Flexible booking options for festive travellers
Alongside the additional capacity, Emirates is promoting booking options designed to give customers greater flexibility when finalising their travel arrangements.
The airline says eligible tickets booked to Dubai offer unlimited free date changes across all cabins, while tickets to other destinations across its network include one free date change, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Its Hold My Fare service allows customers to reserve a ticket price for 24 hours without an additional fee while they finalise their plans. Emirates is also offering reduced refund fees.
Passengers can additionally purchase Comprehensive Travel Cover when booking through the airline’s website or later through its Manage Your Booking service. According to Emirates, the cover includes medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and baggage delay or loss, as well as specified conflict-related benefits. Travellers should review the policy wording, eligibility requirements, exclusions and limits before purchasing cover.
Tickets available for booking
Tickets for the additional festive-season flights are available through the Emirates website, the Emirates app, travel agents and online travel agencies.
With the extra services scheduled around two key holiday periods, Emirates is positioning the expanded Durban route as both a travel convenience for South Africans and an opportunity to support international tourism into KwaZulu-Natal.
For Durban, the additional flights offer a timely boost to international accessibility as the city enters its peak summer season. For travellers, they provide more choice when planning festive reunions, overseas holidays and trips to South Africa’s east coast.
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