Airlink touches down in Zanzibar

Airlink touches down in Zanzibar

03 June 2026, Zanzibar – Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, touched down in Zanzibar today inaugurating its new year-round, twice-a-week, return service from Johannesburg.

The legendary Tanzanian island in the Indian Ocean is famous for its history, culture, spices, beaches, forest and marine life and resorts. These have made Zanzibar an increasingly popular destination for tourists from around the world, including South Africa. So much so that Airlink will add a third weekly return flight on the route from 15 December 2026 to 13 January 2027 for the peak summer holiday season. These are in addition to an entirely new non-stop service between Cape Town and Zanzibar, launching on 03 October 2026.

“Besides becoming a tourist bucket-list destination, Zanzibar’s flourishing economy, which includes its traditional spice trade but also manufacturing, fishing, marine tourism and offshore oil and gas exploration, is an increasingly powerful magnet for investment and trade, which Airlink is well-placed to support,” said de Villiers Engelbrecht, Airlink CEO.

“Besides becoming a tourist bucket-list destination, Zanzibar’s flourishing economy, which includes its traditional spice trade but also manufacturing, fishing, marine tourism and offshore oil and gas exploration, is an increasingly powerful magnet for investment and trade, which Airlink is well-placed to support,” said de Villiers Engelbrecht, Airlink CEO.

Zanzibar’s proximity to Johannesburg, Airlink’s main hub, puts the island within reach of customers based in the greater Gauteng area. The convenient timing of the flights allows for easy connections with Airlink’s network of 48 destinations in 15 countries across South Africa and the SADC region. Similarly, they provide easy connections for customers travelling between Zanzibar and the rest of the world through Airlink’s inter-continental partner airline network.

The adoption of an efficient, new online electronic visa application system and the alternative option of obtaining visas on arrival, are also contributing to Zanzibar’s popularity.

Zanzibar is also the first international destination for Airlink’s brand new, state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2 flagship passenger jets. These modern, fuel-efficient aircraft accommodate up to 136 passengers in comfortable seats with generous leg-room and a choice of either aisle or window seats – Airlink aircraft do not have middle seats.

Onboard, customers receive complimentary meals and refreshments. Airlink customers also benefit from a free 15kg sporting equipment allowance in addition to 20kg free checked luggage for discounted economy class tickets, and 30kg checked luggage for full-fare economy travellers.

From today, Airlink flights between Johannesburg (JNB) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) will operate twice-weekly at the following times:

Between 15 December 2026 and 13 January 2027, additional weekly flights will operate at these times:

To plan, book and manage your Airlink journey, visit www.flyairlink.com, download the FlyAirlink smartphone app, or contact your travel agent.