Land Borders Shut but Airlink Keeps Southern Africa Connected

Although South Africa’s land borders are closed until at least mid-February, Airlink, the independent airline, continues to serve Southern Africa’s main commercial centres with its comprehensive flight schedule and air route network.

South Africa’s decision to close its 20 land borders for all but emergency and exceptional travel, comes as countries across the region continue with efforts to curb COVID-19 infections and limit the pandemic’s harmful social and economic impact.

“Health and safety are critical, as is economic continuity, for which regional air travel is the only viable alternative. Airlink will continue to provide travellers with safe, reliable and affordable connectivity between South Africa and destinations throughout Southern Africa,” said Airlink Managing Director and CEO, Rodger Foster.

Airlink serves Lubumbashi (D.R. Congo), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Maseru (Lesotho), Sikhuphe (Eswatini), Harare and Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), Gaborone, Maun and Kasane (Botswana), Windhoek and Walvis Bay (Namibia), Lusaka and Ndola (Zambia), Maputo, Beira, Pemba and Vilanculos (Mozambique) as well as numerous South African destinations.

Airlink flights are scheduled to enable customers and personnel to comply with South Africa’s curfew and still commute to and from airports with sufficient time to complete the necessary health, security and immigration checks prior to departure. As a result, all Airlink flights depart after 08H00. Similarly, Airlink flights arrive at their final destinations for the day before 20H00, providing customers and personnel with sufficient time to reach their homes or places of accommodation before the 21H00 curfew.

“The well-being of our customers, crew and staff is our priority. By diligently applying and adhering to stringent bio-security protocols, we have demonstrated that flying is the safest way to travel and that we can continue to support and enable business, tourism and trade without spreading the Coronavirus,” explained Mr Foster.

Airlink’s flight schedule is available on our website: www.flyairlink.com/flightschedule. Bookings can be made using Airlink’s website https://www.flyairlink.com/ - manage, through our Reservations office on tel +27 11 451 7300, or through travel agents.

Health and biosecurity requirements for travel

As each country applies its own health and biosecurity measures, customers should familiarise themselves and comply with the requirements of the countries to and from which they are travelling.

A useful resource for information on each country’s travel, health and passport requirements is the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) online Travel Centre facility https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-traveldocument-requirements.htm

About Airlink

Airlink is a privately-owned regional airline serving a comprehensive network of smaller destinations throughout Southern Africa. We operate independently under our own unique 4Z flight code, offering our customers more freedom, more choices and more travel opportunities.

Look out for the Airlink sunbird on our striking new livery. Like our colourful feathered mascot, we are Southern Africa’s busiest airline and also its largest (measured by the number of flights we operate) carrier. In 2019 our fleet of more than 50 modern commercial jetliners carried two million customers on more than 63 000 flights, on 55 routes to 39 destinations in nine African countries and St Helena Island.

Airlink is proudly the most punctual South African airline for 2020* with an on-time performance consistently better than 95%. This illustrates our determination and unwavering commitment to put our customers first by providing excellent and reliable service.