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.jpg) AirlinkEmbraer 190 taxiing atO.R. Tambo International Airport | |||||||
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| Founded | 11 June 1992; 33 years ago (1992-06-11)[2] | ||||||
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| Hubs | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Skybucks | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | |||||||
| Fleet size | 70 | ||||||
| Destinations | 51 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Johannesburg,South Africa | ||||||
| Key people |
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| Website | www | ||||||
Airlink (previously known asSouth African Airlink) is aregional airline based inJohannesburg,South Africa. Its main business is to provide services between smaller, under-served towns and larger hub airports. It has since expanded to offer flights on larger, mainline routes.
The airline has a network of more than 60 routes to over 45 destinations in Southern Africa.[3][4] In January 2021, it became the second-largest carrier within Africa by number of flights, and third-largest by number of seats.[5]
Airlink was formed in 1992 by business partners Rodger Foster and Barrie Webb, following the purchase of the liquidated Link Airways business,[6] which had incorporated a range of other airlines: Midlands Aviation (founded in 1967), Lowveld Aviation Services, Magnum Airlines, Border Air and Citi Air. The new airline was named Airlink.[7]
In 1995, SA Airlink officially launched on 25 March at a gathering of important guests, includingQueen Elizabeth II. Later that year, the airline aligned its branding with that ofSouth African Airways and joined their Voyager frequent-flyer programme.[8]
In 1997, SA Airlink further strengthened their partnership withSouth African Airways, and joined both SAA andSouth African Express in a strategic alliance. This alliance and partnership created the biggest airline network in Africa. The alliance was governed by a franchise agreement, which saw SA Airlink adopt the "South African" brand identity and become South African Airlink.[8]
In 1999, South African Airlink entered into ajoint venture with the government ofSwaziland (nowEswatini) to create a new airline[8] to replace the defunctRoyal Swazi National Airways. The airline was calledSwaziland Airlink and was split 60% to the Swaziland government and 40% toSouth African Airlink. In August 2000, the strategic alliance withSouth African Airways was further strengthened as a bilateral partnership.[8]
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In 2006, South African Airlink exited the strategic alliance with South African Airways and entered into a franchise agreement,[8] dropping the "South African" branding from their name, but retaining a similar colour scheme. SA Airlink introduced their uniqueSunbird logo as part of the new branding.
In February 2008, SA Airlink successfully completed theIATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA),[8] and was placed on the IATA registry with code "4Z".
On 23 December 2009, theSA Civil Aviation Authority grounded their fleet of 13BAe Jetstream 41 planes.[9][10] Following audits of the airline's procedures and inspection of the grounded aircraft, they were returned to service. A problem with a seal in the aircraft'sHoneywell engines was found to be the cause of safety issues.[11]
In 2016, SA Airlink signed an agreement with the government ofMadagascar to operate scheduled domestic air services within it, and regional air services to and from the island. The airline also established a training centre in partnership withEmbraer at their headquarters inBonaero Park,Johannesburg.[8]
On 3 May 2017, Airlink became the first airline in history to make a commercial charter flight toSaint Helena in theSouth Atlantic Ocean, landing aBAe Avro RJ-85 at the newly constructedSaint Helena Airport to pick up passengers stranded there when the island's only link with the outside world, the BritishRoyal Mail ShipRMSSt Helena, sufferedpropeller damage.[12]
No other commercial airliner landed at St Helena until 14 October 2017, when Airlink began history's first scheduled commercial airline service to Saint Helena Airport, with anEmbraer E190 with 78 passengers aboard arriving after a flight of about six hours fromJohannesburg, with a stop atWalvis Bay,Namibia. The flight began a once-a-week scheduled service between Johannesburg and Saint Helena.[12]
In 2018, SA Airlink andFlySafair concluded negotiations for a merger. The application was turned down by the South African Competition Commission on the basis that it believed thatregional airline SA Airlink andlow-cost carrier FlySafair were competitors.
The matter was referred to the Tribunal, but the application was withdrawn as the shareholders' objectives of both companies had changed.[8] In 2019, SA Airlink expanded its training centre in cooperation withEmbraer to house both anEmbraer E190 and anEmbraer ERJ-145 full flight simulator.[8]
In 2020, SA Airlink changed its name from SA Airlink to Airlink. The change was made to distinguish the company as an independent airline. Airlink ended its 23-year old franchise agreement with South African Airways in the early part of 2020.
It has been operating and issuing tickets under its own 4Z ticket stock instead of South African Airways' SA code since then, and signed its owninterline agreements with six other carriers.[13]
On 12 November 2020, Airlink unveiled a new livery,[8] dropping any similarities to the South African Airways brand and incorporating theSunbird logo set against sunrise colours as the main focal point of the new tail insignia. The first aircraft to sport the design were scheduled to fly during the December holiday season in 2020.[citation needed]
In January 2021, Airlink became the third largest carrier within Africa by number of seats offered, and second largest by number of flights scheduled. This is mainly due to Airlink's use of lower capacity aircraft and the opening up of new markets due to the decline of South African Airways.[5]
In March 2022, Airlink committed to a commercial partnership with Federal Airlines, to operate its Lodgelink flights in theLowveld. The flights connect from either Kruger International or Skukuza to lodges within the Lowveld and Northern KwaZulu Natal.
In September 2022, Airlink acquired a 40% stake, labelled a strategic equity holding, in Namibian airlineFlyNamibia for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will have FlyNamibia adopt Airlink's "4Z" flight designation. Airlink will also provide technical and commercial training to FlyNamibia staff.[14][15]
Airlink is privately owned, but has published the names of its shareholders:[16]
Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust, via its subsidiary Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust Investment Holdings, acquired a 32.5% stake in the company in June 2012.[6] The original founders, Airlink, Rodger Foster and Barrie Webb,[6] remain shareholders.
In August 2024,Qatar Airways, acquired a 25% shareholding.[17] Qatar Airways' stake is the maximum foreign ownership amount permissible under South African law. As part of the purchase agreement, Qatar Airways will hold two of the fourteen seats on Airlink's board.[18]
Airlink's head office is in the 3rd office block of the Greenstone Office Park in theGreenstone Hill suburb ofEkurhuleni in Gauteng, South Africa.[19]
Airlink announced that its loyalty programme would be launched on 1 March 2023. This comes after numerous customer suggestions to be rewarded for their loyalty to Airlink, which left the Southern African airline overwhelmed.[citation needed]
The frequent flyer program will include three membership tiers, with eligibility determined by the number of sectors or legs of a journey flown in 12 months. A regular return flight from Johannesburg'sOR Tambo to Durban'sKing Shaka comprises two sectors.
Since August 2022, Airlink's premium and qualifying passengers travelling on its domestic and regional flights, have access to SLOW lounges at Johannesburg's, Cape Town's and Durban's international airports.[20]
As of September 2024[update], Airlink serves the following destinations:[21]
Airlinkcodeshares with the following airlines:[38]
Airlink hasinterline agreements with the following airlines:[38]
As of October 2025[update], Airlink operates an all-Embraer E-Jet fleet:[46][47]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Embraer E135 | 28 | — | — | 37 | 37 | |
| Embraer E170 | 3 | — | 6 | 68 | 74 | |
| Embraer E175 | 4 | — | TBA | |||
| Embraer E190 | 28 | — | 6 | 92 | 98 | |
| Embraer E195 | 6 | — | 11 | 96 | 107 | |
| Embraer E195-E2 | 3 | 7 | 124 | Deliveries from 2025 until 2027.[48] | ||
| 136 | ||||||
| Total | 72 | 7 | ||||
Airlink has previously operated the following aircraft:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-300 | 3 | 1992 | 1995 | |
| Avro RJ85 | 12 | 2008 | 2019 | |
| BAe 146-200 | 4 | 2007 | 2013 | |
| BAe Jetstream 41 | 16 | 1995 | 2023 | |
| Boeing 737-200 | 1 | 2006 | 2007 | Leased fromSafair |
| Boeing 737-300 | 1 | 2022 | 2024 | Leased fromStar Air |
| Cessna 208B | 5 | 2015 | 2022 | [49] |
| Dornier 228-100 | 1 | 1993 | 1997 | |
| Dornier 228-200 | 1 | 1995 | 1997 | |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 31 | 2012 | 2018 | ZS-DFA leased fromNAC |
| Fokker F28-4000 | 3 | 2003 | 2005 | Leased fromAirQuarius |
| Swearingen Merlin II | 3 | 1992 | 1997 |
Media related toSouth African Airlink at Wikimedia Commons
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