Airlink(previously known asSouth African Airlink) is aregional airlinebased 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]
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| Founded | 11 June 1992[2] | ||||||
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| Hubs | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Skybucks | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | |||||||
| Fleet size | 67 | ||||||
| Destinations | 51 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Johannesburg,South Africa | ||||||
| Key people | Rodger Foster (CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
History
editEarly years
editAirlink 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 AirandCiti 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 Airwaysand joined their Voyager frequent-flyer programme.[8]In 1997, SA Airlink further strengthened their partnership withSouth African Airways,and joined both SAA andSouth African Expressin 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 venturewith the government ofSwaziland(nowEswatini) to create a new airline[8]to replace the defunctRoyal Swazi National Airways.The airline was calledSwaziland Airlinkand was split 60% to the Swaziland government and 40% toSouth African Airlink.In August 2000, the strategic alliance withSouth African Airwayswas further strengthened as a bilateral partnership.[8]
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 uniqueSunbirdlogo as part of the new branding. In February 2008, SA Airlink successfully completed theIATAOperational Safety Audit (IOSA),[8]and was placed on the IATA registry with code "4Z". On 23 December 2009, theSA Civil Aviation Authoritygrounded their fleet of 13BAe Jetstream 41planes.[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'sHoneywellengines was found to be the cause of safety issues.[11]
In 2016, SA Airlink signed an agreement with the government ofMadagascarto 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 withEmbraerat their headquarters inBonaero Park,Johannesburg.[8]On 3 May 2017, Airlink became the first airline in history to make a commercial charter flight toSaint Helenain theSouth Atlantic Ocean,landing aBAe Avro RJ-85at the newly constructedSaint Helena Airportto pick up passengers stranded there when the island's only link with the outside world, the BritishRoyal Mail ShipRMSSt Helena,sufferedpropellerdamage.[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 E190with 78 passengers aboard arriving after a flight of about six hours fromJohannesburg,with a stop atWalvis Bay,Namibia.[citation needed]The flight began a once-a-week scheduled service between Johannesburg and Saint Helena.[12]
In 2018, SA Airlink andFlySafairconcluded negotiations for a merger. The application was turned down by the South African Competition Commission on the basis that it believed thatregional airlineSA Airlink andlow-cost carrierFlySafair 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 withEmbraerto house both anEmbraer E190and anEmbraer ERJ-145full 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 agreementswith 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 theSunbirdlogo 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 airlineFlyNamibiafor 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]
Corporate affairs
editOwnership
editAirlink is privately owned, but has published the names of its shareholders:[16]
- Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust (32.5%)
- Coronation Capital
- SA Airlink Investments (Rodger Foster)
- Barrie Webb
- South African Airways (2.96%)
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]
Head office
editAirlink's head office is in the 3rd office block of the Greenstone Office Park in theGreenstone Hillsuburb ofEkurhuleniin Gauteng, South Africa.[19]
Programs
editSkybucks
editAirlink 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 Tamboto Durban'sKing Shakawhich comprises two sectors.
SLOW Lounge
editSince 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]
Destinations
editAs of September 2024[update],Airlink serves the following destinations:[21]
Codeshare agreements
editAirlinkcodeshareswith the following airlines:[38]
Interline agreements
editAirlink hasinterline agreementswith the following airlines:[38]
- Air Botswana
- Air China
- Air France
- Air Mauritius
- Air Seychelles
- Cathay Pacific
- Condor
- Delta Air Lines
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- LAM Mozambique Airlines
- LATAM Brasil
- LATAM Chile
- Precision Air
- Qantas
- RwandAir
- Saudia
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAAG Angola Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
Fleet
editCurrent fleet
editAs of September 2024[update],Airlink operates the following aircraft:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | Refs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | |||||
| Embraer ERJ-135 | 16 | — | — | 37 | 37 | ||
| Embraer ERJ-140 | 11 | — | — | 44 | 44 | ||
| Embraer E170 | 3 | — | 6 | 68 | 74 | ||
| Embraer E175 | 3 | — | TBA | ||||
| Embraer E190 | 28 | — | 6 | 92 | 98 | ||
| Embraer E195 | 6 | — | 11 | 96 | 107 | ||
| Total | 67 | — | |||||
Historical fleet
editAirlink 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 | [42] |
| Dornier 228-100 | 1 | 1993 | 1997 | |
| Dornier 228-200 | 1 | 1995 | 1997 | |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 2 | 2012 | 2018 | ZS-DFA leased fromNAC |
| Fokker F28-4000 | 3 | 2003 | 2005 | Leased fromAirQuarius |
| Swearingen Merlin II | 3 | 1992 | 1997 |
Incidents and accidents
edit- On 24 September 2009,Airlink Flight 8911,aBAe Jetstream 41ZS-NRMon apositioning flightfromDurban International AirporttoPietermaritzburg Airportcrashed into the grounds of Merebank Secondary School,Durbanshortly after takeoff. The crew declared an emergency, reporting loss of engine power and smoke coming from the rear of the aircraft. The pilots ditched the aircraft on the sports field of the school, avoiding hitting nearby residential areas.[43]The school was closed due to it being a public holiday. All three crew members and one person on the ground were injured.[44][45]The captain, Allister Freeman, later died as a result of complications from his injuries on 7 October 2009.[10]
- On 7 December 2009, Airlink Flight 8625, anEmbraer ERJ-135ZS-SJWoverran the runway on landing in wet weather atGeorge Airport.No fatalities were reported. The flight was cleared for anInstrument landing (ILS)approach and prevailing weather conditions at the time were overcast with light rain. The landing appeared normal, however the aircraft did not vacate the runway but instead veered to the right and collided with approach lights before it burst through the airport's perimeter fence, coming to rest in a nose-down attitude on a public road. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[46][47][48]The crew were unable to stop the aircraft due to ineffective braking of the aircraft on the wet runway surface. Two months before the accident the runway was treated with a fog sealant. The day of the accident was the first rain experienced since the runway treatment. The new surface caused a degradation of the surface friction and promoted the formation of pooling. After touch down, the aircraft immediately startedaquaplaningand the crew veered to the right to prevent a collision with the localiser antenna. The runway was found non-compliant withICAOannexe 14 and was subsequently resurfaced.[49]Airlink's insurers took legal action against the state-ownedAirports Company of South Africa.[50]
- On 8 November 2017, Airlink Flight 8103, anAvro 146-RJ85A,registeredZS-ASW,took off fromHarare International Airportbound forOR Tambo International Airport.38 minutes into the flight, the number 2 engine suffered an Uncontained Engine Failure that hurled fragments into the No. 1 engine, causing it to fail. The crew elected to continue to OR Tambo International Airport, despite Makhado Air Force Base being in close proximity to the aircraft at the time of failure. The aircraft landed safely at OR Tambo International Airport with no injuries reported. The failure was caused by a dislodged retaining nut, resulting in the turbine disk coming off the shaft.[51]
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External links
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Media related toSouth African Airlinkat Wikimedia Commons
