Airlink Profile

Click here to view our new Livery and why we chose a Sunbird.

Experience our E-jet Business Class

Airlink offers a intra-continental style business class service available on selected domestic and regional flights.  Our service includes complimentary catering, assorted beverages, additional checked-in baggage allowance, priority boarding and lounge access at selected airports.
 
The cabin layout features expansive business class seats with enhanced comfort by way of a generous seat pitch in a two plus one abreast seating configuration.
 
Large eye-level windows allows in lots of natural light with ample overhead bin stowage to accommodate carry-on items.  The E-jets are configured with 6 business class seats.
 
Enjoy the Airlink hospitality onboard.

• We are committed to the optimisation of regional air transportation by providing exceptional quality service to all our passengers.
• We are committed to providing seamless interline connections with our partner flights around the world, in particular, linking smaller communities to the major hubs of commerce and industry.
• Punctuality is our most important service delivery criteria.
• To realise our vision of an extensive network spanning many regional capitals, smaller communities and major cities, we will work together with our alliance partners.
• We are driven by the needs and feelings of our passengers and will keep on refining our service to their satisfaction.
• We will set benchmarks in safety, on-time performance and reliability through professionalism and enhanced productivity.
• We never lose sight of the importance of our profitability and will do what needs to be done to optimise viability and create wealth for all our stakeholders.
• We are determined to remain South Africa´s leading Regional Feeder Airline. We aspire to being a role model to the industry.

• Privately owned.
• More than 55 routes.
• More than 50 aircraft in the fleet, ability to swop aircraft in the event of a delay.
• Airlink will never cancel a flight.
• Complimentary onboard catering including choice of beverages.
• 20kg free check in baggage allowance for Economy Class
  30kg free check in baggage allowance for Business Class
• 15kg additional free sporting equipment at no extra cost.
• Choice of window or aisle seat , no middle seat
• More than 1.9 m customers per year.
• 60 000 scheduled flights per annum.
• Level4 BBBEE 
• Punctuality consistently at 95%. 
• Widest network and choice of flights.
• Financially independent and not reliant on State Subvention for subsistence.
• Consistently and responsibly profitable during its 28 years of operations.
• Intra-continental styled business class on select routes and flights.
• Member of IATA (International Air Transportation Association) and IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit programme) accredited.
• 400 aircraft engineers and maintenance specialists.
• Largest fleet of commercial jet airliners in southern Africa.
• 450 Airlink flight deck and cabin crews, of whom 250 are proudly female.

Our Investors and Owners

We are privately owned, financially independent and not reliant on State Subvention for subsistence. This includes our 350,000 previously disadvantaged families from the Sishen, Sishen South and Thabazimbi areas.

Financial Hygiene

We have been consistently and responsibly profitable during 28 years of operations.

Our Network and destinations – Southern Africa’s largest

We are the largest regional airline in our sub region, operating an extensive network to South African cities and towns including services to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Lesotho and eSwatini as well as to the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic. With the widest network and choice of flights, and the largest fleet of commercial jet airliners in southern Africa, our customers also have the freedom to enjoy intra-continental styled business class on our E-jets, operating select routes and flights.

Aircraft fleet and maintenance

We have a fleet of more than 50 aircraft, 80% of which are regional jet airliners. Having this amount of aircraft means that we are able to swap aircraft to recover schedule in the event of a delay. Our fleet of aircraft are supported and maintained by a dedicated team of 400 aircraft engineers and specialists located at various key nodes within South Africa including 3 hangar complexes at OR Tambo International airport.

Our aircrews

We employ a team of 450 flight deck and cabin crews, of whom 250 are proudly female. They are trained in our own state-of-the-art Flight Training Centre located in Bonaero Park, Johannesburg. The complex includes 3 aircraft simulators, cabin trainers and other procedural aids and classrooms providing the opportunity for comprehensive training from early ab initio crews starting their careers in flying to bi-annual recurrent/refresher training as well as type training as a part of career progression.

Airlink flights are rarely late and never cancelled

We understand that our customer’s most important criteria for choosing Airlink over other operators is punctuality. Airlink is consistently ranked as one of the two top airlines for on-time operation in
South Africa’s skies. In 2019 more than 92% of Airlink’s flights departed on-time (an independent measure applied by ACSA - the Airports Company of South Africa). 2020 is no different and we currently have a punctuality rate of 95%. We know that to cancel a flight without there being very sound reasons, outside of the airline’s direct control to do so, is extremely distressing to our customers because of the disruption it causes to their travel plans.

Safety, Reliability and Quality

We are a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association) and is IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit program) accredited. We are IOSA conformant and have been since 2006.

BBBEE

We are certified level 4 BBBEE. You can view our BBBEE certificate here.