South African Airways (SAA) and Turkish Airlines have entered a new codeshare agreement designed to broaden route networks and significantly enhance connectivity between Africa, Türkiye, and major global destinations.
Signed in Geneva by Turkish Airlines Chairman Pr Ahmet Bolat and SAA CEO Pr John Lamola, the partnership is set to take effect on 1 March 2026, creating an integrated travel offering for passengers across both airlines.
Under the arrangement, Turkish Airlines will place its TK code on SAA-operated flights to major African cities including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls, and Mauritius.
In turn, SAA will attach its SA code to Turkish Airlines flights linking İstanbul with Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Frankfurt, Paris, and London. Both airlines describe the collaboration as a strategic move that strengthens Türkiye–South Africa relations while elevating customer experience through increased access and seamless travel options.
Pr Bolat hailed the agreement as a major step towards deepening Turkish Airlines’ footprint in Africa, where it already serves 65 destinations in 41 countries—more than any other non-African carrier.
Pr Lamola emphasised the long-term value and operational synergies the partnership will deliver, noting that SAA views the codeshare as a critical mechanism for expanding safe, reliable, and competitive air services. The deal is expected to offer SAA customers broader access to Turkish Airlines’ global network of 355 destinations across 131 countries, reinforcing both carriers’ ambitions for sustainable growth and enhanced connectivity.