Tag Archives: Airlink

Qatar Airways and Airlink sign a comprehensive codeshare agreement

Qatar Airways and Airlink have signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement to offer travellers more choices, enhanced services and greater connectivity between 45 destinations in 13 countries across southern Africa and the rest of the world.

This new codeshare agreement means travellers can enjoy the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using a single reservation with seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage-check experience, during the entire journey.

The partnership will enable customers to book attractive offers from southern Africa to popular destinations in the U.S. such as New York and Dallas, cities in Europe such as London, Copenhagen and Barcelona, and points across Asia like Manila, Jakarta and Cebu. The agreement also increases Qatar Airways’ footprint in southern Africa, with improved access to destinations such as Ggeberha (Port Elizabeth) Hoedspruit, Skukuza, George in South Africa and beyond to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Qatar Airways was the only airline to launch new services in southern Africa after the pandemic, starting operations to Luanda, Harare and Lusaka last year. It resumes operations to Windhoek this month, providing another connection to Airlink’s extensive regional network via eight gateways in the region.

The new codeshare flights are available for sales and will commence travel on July 6, 2022 subject to government approval.

Qatar Airways offers 21 direct weekly flights from Doha to Johannesburg, 10 weekly flights to Cape Town and four weekly flights to Durban. From South Africa, travellers can connect easily to destinations across six continents via the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport.

Airlink’s history:

AIRLINK TIMELINE

1992

Business partners Rodger Foster and Barrie Webb successfully bid for liquidated Link Airways. The new airline is named Airlink.

1995

“SA Airlink” is officially launched on 25 March at a gathering of important guests, including Queen Elizabeth II. SA Airlink brand aligns with that of SAA and SA Airlink joins the Voyager frequent flier loyalty programme.

1997

SA Airlink joins SAA and SA Express in a strategic alliance that leads to the establishment of the leading aviation network in Africa. SA Airlink and SA Express adopt the “South African” franchise brand.

1999

Swaziland Airlink is formed as a joint venture company between Airlink and the Swaziland (now Eswatini) government.

2000

On 3 April, SA Airlink officially opens the Kruger Park Gateway Airport in Phalaborwa. On 30 August, the franchise agreement between SAA and SA Airlink is signed as a bilateral relationship.

2005

SA Airlink commences air services to Antananarivo in Madagascar.

2006

SA Airlink changes its corporate identity, adopting the brand “Airlink” emphasising the airline’s corporate positioning statement, ‘Freedom of the African Sky’ and displaying the distinctive South African national colours of blue, red, green and gold, along with the brightly coloured sunbird emblem. Airlink’s badging, while distinctly different from the franchise brand, demonstrates clear alignment with SAA’s “South African” brand.

2008

SA Airlink, having successfully completed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), is placed on the IATA Register on 6 February, assuring customers of the highest possible standard of service.

2009

In October, SA Airlink moves into its new head office in Greenstone Hill Office Park, Modderfontein.

2011

In December, the Airports Company SA (ACSA) presents four Feather Awards to SA Airlink in recognition of consistent service excellence at ACSA airports.

2012

In June, SA Airlink sells a 32.51% stake of the company in a landmark broad-based black economic empowerment transaction. In December, ACSA presents six Feather Awards to SA Airlink in recognition of consistent service excellence at ACSA airports.

2013

In March, SA Airlink commences direct services between Johannesburg and Kasane and between Johannesburg and Vilanculos, bringing the total number of destinations in the SA Airlink network to 31. On 11 June, Airlink celebrates 21 years in the aviation industry. At this point, SA Airlink has a turnover of more than two billion rand, employs about 1,000 staff, and carries one million-plus customers annually.

2015

SA Airlink becomes the first domestic airline to offer scheduled flights between Cape Town and the then recently refurbished Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria.

2016

SA Airlink signs an agreement with the government of Madagascar to operate domestic air services within Madagascar and regional air services between Madagascar and key states within Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. SA Airlink, in partnership with Embraer, opens the Airlink Training Centre in Bonaero Park.

2017

SA Airlink celebrates its 25th anniversary under the same leadership, and the 50th anniversary of one of its root airlines, Lowveld Air Services, which started in 1967. In June, SA Airlink is chosen by the St Helena Government as its preferred bidder to provide a scheduled airline service to the island.
In August, the first of the airline’s new Embraer E-190 E-Jets begin operating on routes to Pietermaritzburg and Bulawayo. In December, ACSA presents Feather Awards to SA Airlink in recognition of Best Performing Regional Airline and Best Performing Domestic Airline.

2018

SA Airlink and FlySafair conclude negotiations for a merger/acquisition by SA Airlink of FlySafair. The application for authorisation to proceed is turned down by the Competitions Commission on the grounds that the Competitions Commission believes that SA Airlink and FlySafair are competitors.
The matter is referred to the Tribunal, but before arguments are presented the application is withdrawn as the objectives of the shareholders of SA Airlink and FlySafair had diverged.
In December, the Airports Company SA (ACSA) presents a Feather Award to SA Airlink in recognition of Best Performing Regional Airline.

2019

SA Airlink establishes its high-tech training centre of excellence in conjunction with Embraer, housing both an Embraer E190 and an Embraer ERJ145 simulator. These simulators operate up to five training slots per day and greatly assist in the cognitive, associative and autonomous stages of pilot training.

2020 – SECOND QUARTER ONWARDS

SA Airlink resumes operations during COVID-19 lockdown level 3, operating on its own 4Z flight code. SA Airlink re-defines its business model as an independent comprehensive airline network incorporating all keys destinations within South Africa and Southern Africa.

SA Airlink establishes itself as the most comprehensive airline network system in Southern Africa, offering more connections to key cities within Africa and the world by way of interconnectivity within its own network and with the networks of its partner airlines. SA Airlink introduces flights to new destinations, including Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, East London, George, Dar es Salaam, Windhoek, Lubumbashi, Luanda and Maputo.

Qatar Airways and Emirates sign interline agreements with Airlink that will provide passengers with seamless connectivity via Cape Town and Johannesburg to more than 45 destinations within Southern Africa.

In September SA Airlink (Pty) Ltd changes its corporate name to Airlink (Pty) Ltd to align the company with its trade name and brand “Airlink” that had been in use since 2005.

On 12 November, Airlink unveils its new livery and its new tail insignia, clearly proclaiming its status as an independent airline.

Airlink route map:

Airlink aircraft photo gallery:

Qatar Airways aircraft photo gallery:

Airlink to return to St. Helena on March 26

The scheduled Airlink service will recommence on Saturday, March 26, 2022, with fortnightly flights between Johannesburg and St Helena and the monthly inter-Island service with Ascension Island. Additional inter-Island flights have been included during periods of peak demand.

The Airlink flight schedule between March 2022 and January 2023 can be seen below:

Flight No.	Date	Leg	Flight No.	Date	Leg
131	26 Mar 2022	JNB – HLE	135	26 Mar 2022	HLE – ASI
136	27 Mar 2022	ASI – HLE	132	27 Mar 2022	HLE – JNB
131	9 Apr 2022	JNB – HLE	132	9 Apr 2022	HLE – JNB
131	23 Apr 2022	JNB – HLE	135	23 Apr 2022	HLE – ASI
136	24 Apr 2022	ASI – HLE	132	24 Apr 2022	HLE – JNB
131	7 May 2022	JNB – HLE	132	7 May 2022	HLE – JNB
131	21 May 2022	JNB – HLE	135	21 May 2022	HLE – ASI
136	22 May 2022	ASI – HLE	132	22 May 2022	HLE – JNB
131	4 Jun 2022	JNB – HLE	132	4 Jun 2022	HLE – JNB
131	18 Jun 2022	JNB – HLE	135	18 Jun 2022	HLE – ASI
136	19 Jun 2022	ASI – HLE	132	19 Jun 2022	HLE – JNB
131	2 July 2022	JNB – HLE	132	2 July 2022	HLE – JNB
131	16 July 2022	JNB – HLE	135	16 July 2022	HLE – ASI
136	17 July 2022	ASI – HLE	132	17 July 2022	HLE – JNB
131	30 July 2022	JNB – HLE	135	30 July 2022	HLE – ASI
136	31 July 2022	ASI – HLE	132	31 July 2022	HLE – JNB
131	13 Aug 2022	JNB – HLE	132	13 Aug 2022	HLE – JNB
131	27 Aug 2022	JNB – HLE	135	27 Aug 2022	HLE – ASI
136	28 Aug 2022	ASI – HLE	132	28 Aug 2022	HLE – JNB
131	10 Sep 2022	JNB – HLE	135	10 Sep 2022	HLE – ASI
136	11 Sep 2022	ASI – HLE	132	11 Sep 2022	HLE – JNB
131	24 Sep 2022	JNB – HLE	132	24 Sep 2022	HLE – JNB
131	8 Oct 2022	JBN – HLE	135	8 Oct 2022	HLE – ASI
136	9 Oct 2022	ASI – HLE	132	9 Oct 2022	HLE – JNB
131	22 Oct 2022	JNB – HLE	132	22 Oct 2022	HLE – JNB
131	5 Nov 2022	JNB – HLE	135	5 Nov 2022	HLE – ASI
136	6 Nov 2022	ASI – HLE	132	6 Nov 2022	HLE – JNB
131	19 Nov 2022	JNB – HLE	132	19 Nov 2022	HLE – JNB
131	3 Dec 2022	JNB – HLE	135	3 Dec 2022	HLE – ASI
136	4 Dec 2022	ASI – HLE	132	4 Dec 2022	HLE – JNB
131	17 Dec 2022	JNB – HLE	135	17 Dec 2022	HLE – ASI
136	18 Dec 2022	ASI – HLE	132	18 Dec 2022	HLE – JNB
131	24 Dec 2022	JNB – HLE	132	24 Dec 2022	HLE – JNB
131	7 Jan 2023	JNB – HLE	135	7 Jan 2023	HLE – ASI
136	8 Jan 2023	ASI – HLE	132	8 Jan 2023	HLE – JNB
131	21 Jan 2023	JNB – HLE	135`	21 Jan 2023	HLE – ASI
136	22 Jan 2023	ASI – HLE	132	22 Jan 2023	HLE – JNB

Airlink tickets for the service between Johannesburg and St Helena are now on sale and are available online via the Airlink website at: www.flyairlink.com/en-za/flights-to-st-helena and through all IATA travel agents.

Ethiopian Airlines enters into an interline agreement with South Africa’s Airlink

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is delighted to announce that it has signed an interline agreement with Airlink (4Z), an airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ethiopian has entered into an interline agreement with Airlink to allow passengers to enjoy seamless travel with a single ticket and lower fare tickets between points within the carriers’ synergized networks. With the interline agreements between the two carriers, passengers can book through their itineraries on both airlines easily. The partnership attracts more customers providing ease of connectivity to their destinations served by both Ethiopian and Airlink.

Ethiopian Airlines has been implementing various partnership agreements with African and global carriers to further expand its accessibility to its customers. The partnership with Artlink in particular will increase seamless connectivity options for customers in the regions of South Africa with the vast network of Ethiopian Airlines in the continent and beyond. Ethiopian Airlines connectivity options are crucial in fulfilling the increasing demand of our customers. Ethiopian and Airlink customers will handle each other’s travelers check in and baggage for all their flights with the airlines. Airlink provides services between smaller, under-served towns and larger hub airports. Hence, through the interline agreement signed with Ethiopian, customers from south Africa will benefit from more than 60 African destination of Ethiopian.

United Airlines and Airlink announce a new codeshare agreement

United Airlines and Airlink, a South African airline, announced a new codeshare agreement that will offer customers more connections between the U.S. and Southern Africa than any other airline alliance.

The new agreement, which is subject to government approval, will offer one stop connections from the U.S. to more than 40 destinations in Southern Africa. Additionally, United will be the first airline to connect its loyalty program with Airlink, allowing MileagePlus members to earn and redeem miles when they travel on Airlink flights. This new cooperation will be in addition to United’s existing partnership with Star Alliance member South African Airways.

United has continued to expand its footprint into Africa, with direct service to four African destinations. Earlier this month, United announced flights between Washington, D.C. and Lagos Nigeria will begin November 29, subject to government approval.

Earlier this year, United launched new service between New York/Newark and Johannesburg, South Africa and between Washington, D.C. and Accra, Ghana, which is expected to operate daily this December and January. United’s popular service between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa will also resume on December 1.

This new codeshare will be implemented upon final government approvals

Airlink signs a service agreement with Rolls-Royce for its ERJ 135s

Rolls-Royce and Airlink have signed a TotalCare® service agreement for the AE3007 engines that power the South African airline’s fleet of Embraer ERJ 135 aircraft. The agreement, which covers 28 aircraft, is an extension of service for a further 10 years, continuing the airline’s drive to maximize aircraft availability.

Airlink CEO, Rodger Foster, said; “Airlink and Rolls-Royce have worked hand in hand since the introduction of the ERJ 135 to our fleet in May 2001. We operate 28 ERJs with a pool of 64 AE3007-A1/3 engines. We are proud of the phenomenal reliability we have achieved from these engines which have underpinned Airlink’s industry leading on-time performance, which has consistently been above 97%. Our TotalCare service agreement has been key to the management of engine maintenance costs and to ensuring the economic sustainability of the ERJ135 type for the foreseeable future. We are delighted at the dependability of the Rolls-Royce team and their engines.”

In 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Airlink carried more than 2 million customers on more than 63,000 flights. Airlink currently operates a reduced route network to more than 45 destinations in 12 African countries, whilst remaining agile to the effects of Covid-19 and associated travel restrictions. Airlink was proudly the most punctual South African airline for 2020; its year-to-date performance up to August 2021 has been 98.1% on-time.

Emirates and Airlink expand partnership and seal codeshare agreement

Emirates and Airlink have announced the expansion of their existing partnership into a unilateral codeshare agreement, giving travelers to and from South Africa convenient access to more than 40 domestic and regional destinations across 12 African countries.

The extended codeshare provides connectivity to Emirates customers not offered by any other carrier in Africa, and augments the long-standing partnership that Emirates has with South African Airways.

The move comes as Emirates resumes its flights to South Africa and ramps up its operations to provide customers with enhanced connectivity via its gateways Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The connectivity provided by the new codeshare between Emirates and Airlink will offer competitive fares, combined ticketing, and seamless baggage transfers when connecting between both airlines.

Customers traveling to South Africa can now transfer from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to domestic points like Bloemfontein, George, Upington, Nelspruit, Hoedspruit, Kimberley, Skukuza, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Sishen, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth, as well as points across Southern Africa like Gaborone, Kasane, Vilanculos, Lubumbashi, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Maseru, Antananarivo, Pemba, Tete, Maun, Victoria Falls, Walvis Bay, Maputo, Windhoek, Harare, Lusaka, Ndola, Bulawayo and Livingstone amongst many other cities.

Airlink introduces a new independent look

Airlink’s New Tailfeathers Bring Freedom to Southern Africa’s Skies

Airlink, the privately-owned Southern African airline, has revealed its new tail feathers, distinguishing itself as a completely independent carrier.

The new look, which features a distinctively colorful African Sunbird set against a sunrise and dawn sky, follows several recent developments, including the formal re-naming of the company as “Airlink”. It signifies the airline’s new strategy, as an independent, agile, responsive and financially robust business that is free of any brand association with its former franchise partner, South African Airways.

The new livery will be applied to Airlink’s fleet over the coming months, with the re-painting coinciding with each aircraft’s next scheduled deep-maintenance overhaul. This will avoid disrupting the airline’s operations. The first aircraft bearing the new colours will resume service in early December, in time for the summer holiday season.

Airlink recently launched frequent daily services on what have historically been South Africa’s (and Africa’s) busiest city pairings; Johannesburg – Cape Town and Johannesburg – Durban in addition to Johannesburg-Port Elzabeth and Johannesburg – East London. It also inaugurated its first new routes linking Johannesburg with Maputo as well as Johannesburg with Windhoek. With the phased relaxation of domestic and regional travel restrictions, Airlink has re-started services to all 15 of South Africa’s main economic and tourist centres. In addition, it is operating to Zimbabwe (Harare and Bulawayo), Zambia (Lusaka, Ndola and soon also Livingstone), Namibia (Windhoek and Walvis Bay), Lesotho (Maseru), Eswatini (Sikhuphe) and Mozambique (Maputo, Pemba, Beira and Vilanculos). Next week Airlink will resume flights to Botswana (Gaborone, followed next month by Maun and Kasane) and will restart flights to Madagascar in December (Nosy Be, while it awaits the re-opening of Antananarivo. Flights to St Helena will re-commence as soon as it is permissible. Airlink also plans to parade its new tailfeathers to several other established and new destinations as they come online over the coming weeks and months.

Route Map:

SA Airline officially becomes Airlink

Airlink, the privately-owned airline, has officially changed its company name from “SA Airlink” to “Airlink”, as part of its strategy to distinguish itself as a totally independent airline.

Earlier this year Airlink ended its 23 year franchise agreement with South African Airways and began operating and issuing tickets on its own “4Z” code and designator. This has liberated Airlink and enabled it to forge commercial ties with other international airlines that carry passengers and cargo to and from destinations across Southern Africa. It has subsequently signed collaborative “interline” agreements with Qatar Airways, Emirates, British Airways, KLM, Air France and United.

Airlink is a privately-owned regional airline serving a comprehensive network of smaller destinations throughout Southern Africa. We are now operating independently under our own unique 4Z flight code offering more freedom, more choices and more travel opportunities. When you see the sunbird icon on our aircraft, think Airlink. You’ll know that you’re travelling with Southern Africa’s largest (measured by flight movements) independent airline. Airlink has more than 50 commercial jetliners operating throughout Southern Africa. Last year we carried 2 million customers on more than 63 000 flights, on 55 routes to 39 destinations in nine African countries and St Helena Island.

Airlink to acquire Safair, the brands will remain separate if approved

Airlink and Safair, two independent South African aviation groups, on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 will apply to South Africa’s Competition Commission for approval to unite under the common umbrella of the Airlink group of companies.

The proposal sees the Airlink and low-cost FlySafair (below) airlines and Safair’s other businesses, including humanitarian aid flights, continuing to operate separately under their unique brands.

Above Copyright Photo: FlySafair (Safair) Boeing 737-4Y0 ZS-JRD (msn 24917) JNB (Rob Finlayson). Image: 928163.

The airlines will retain their respective products, aircraft fleets, management and leadership teams. Employees will be secure with no job losses because of the consolidation.

“Airlink’s acquisition of Safair, which is financially robust and profitable, makes good business sense. It presents opportunities to reduce our combined costs, position ourselves for growth while at the same time increasing connectivity and choice while making air travel accessible and affordable for our customers across Southern Africa,” explained Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

“Our combined networks will enable us to connect 37 destinations in nine Southern African & Indian Ocean countries and St. Helena. This will stimulate and enable trade, tourism, economic growth and social development in those markets we serve,” added Foster

“Coming under a single umbrella will create economies of scale that will enable both airlines to share costs, optimise assets and remove systems duplications. This will position the new Airlink Group for future growth,” said Elmar Conradie, who will remain as Safair CEO.

In addition, the proposed new ownership structure will see Airlink continue to meet – and in future exceed – South Africa’s Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment targets.

The Safair purchase will not affect Airlink’s existing SAA franchise partnership, which continues to deliver traffic and business to SAA and Airlink while their customers benefit from the value, convenience and connectivity the arrangement provides.

As part of its continued commitment to the aviation industry within South Africa, Safair shareholder ASL Aviation Holdings will become a minority shareholder of the Airlink Group of companies. ASL Aviation Holdings is a global aviation group with 6 European and 2 Asian airlines in addition to its South African interests.

More details will be provided when the Competition Commission has made its determination, which we anticipate will be during Q1 2018.

About Airlink

Airlink was established in 1992 and is the leading regional airline in Southern Africa. It has a route network of 37 destinations in nine African countries and St. Helena..

About Safair

Safair Operations was established in 1965 and has been a leader in the provision of specialised aviation services for the past 52 years. In 2014 the company launched FlySafair, a low-cost carrier competing in South Africa’s domestic market.

Top Copyright Photo: The remaining RJ85s should be replaced and retired by late 2019. Airlink (South African Airlink) BAe RJ85 ZS-SSJ (msn E2385) JNB (TMK Photography). Image: 920116.

Airlink: