Airlink | SA Airlines

Airlink, a privately owned and proudly South African airline, was founded in 1992 and has headquarters in Greenstone Hill, Lethabong. While the company is registered as Airlink, it trades simply as "Airlink".

The main airline hubs are in O.R Tambo Airport, Cape Town International Airport, and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The airline was created with the intention of acting as a feeder or linking airline between small towns and larger hubs across South Africa; living up to its motto of "Freedom of the African Sky".

South African Airlink was birthed from the liquidation of the Link Airways business in 1992. In 1997, the airline formed an alliance governed by a franchise agreement, with South African Express Airways and South African Airways

The current investors in the company are: Coronation Capital, SA Airlink Investments, Barrie Webb, South African Airways, and Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust.

In Flight Experience

Airlink provides a comfortable in-flight experience for travellers. On board, passengers are provided with a copy of the in-flight magazine called Skyways. Skyways features information on local news, attractions and stories from South Africa.

Cabin Classes:There are various cabin classes available to passenger dependent on whether they are booking Airlink flights for domestic or regional travel:

• Economy class: Spacious, comfortable seating and complimentary snacks and beverages on board.
• Business class: Wider seats with extra leg room and award-winning hot meals.

Baggage Allowances:Each cabin class comes with certain baggage allowances attached. They are as follows:

• Economy class baggage allowance: Passengers in this class are allowed to carry 1 piece of hand luggage no more than 8kg and 1 piece of checked luggage no more than 20kg.
• Business class baggage allowance: Passengers in this class are allowed to carry 2 pieces of hand luggage no more than 8kg each and 2 pieces of checked luggage no more than 30kg each.

Limitations exist for both classes in terms of baggage dimensions as follows:

• Hand luggage pieces cannot exceed the total dimensions of 115cm.
• For checked in luggage, no piece of luggage cannot exceed 52cm x 20cm x 23cm.

Airlink Fleet

Airlink currently flies to 36 destinations using 31 aircraft. Their fleet consists of the following aircraft:

• Jetstream 4100: This aircraft can carry 29 passengers
• ERJ 135 Jet: This aircraft can carry 37 passengers
• Cessna 208B Grand Caravan: This aircraft is a 12-seater
• ERJ 140: This aircraft is a 44-seater
• ERJ 170: This aircraft can carry 74 passengers
• ERJ 190 AR: This aircraft can carry 98 passengers

Airlink prides itself on carrying out regular maintenance and servicing tasks to ensure that aircraft are always in the safest and most compliant condition.

Airlink Destinations - Fly Airlink to:

• Cape Town
• Johannesburg
• Port Elizabeth
• Durban
• East London
• George
• Bloemfontein
• Pietermaritzburg
• Polokwane
• Phalabowa
• Sishen
• Skukuza

Airlink offers a network of flights between major hubs and smaller towns. The airline offers a greater reach through its alliance with SAA, SA Express, and Star Alliance.

Airlink also offers flights to destinations outside of South Africa including:

• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Botswana
• Madagascar
• Zambia
• Swaziland
• Lesotho

How to Check in for Airlink Flights

Fly Airlink and you will find convenient check in procedures for passengers in the following ways:

• Airport Counter: Passengers can check-in for a domestic flight 90 minutes prior to departure. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. For international flights, check in procedures at the airport open 2 hours prior to departure and close 50 minutes prior to departure.
• Online: Passengers can log onto the Airlink website and visit the online check-in tab to complete the check-in process. Online check in is open 24 hours prior to departure.
• Mobile: Passengers can check in via their mobile phone by visiting the Airlink website.
• Self-Service Kiosk: Passengers can use self-service kiosks at the airport to avoid the queues at the check in counters. Boarding passes are printed at the kiosk and passengers only need to drop their bags at the counters.

Airlink in the News

• Airlink suspends flights to and from Mthatha Airport after the CAA downgrades the airport to a grade 3 airport. According to the CAA, the downgrade is in the best interests of passenger and crew safety. Read more on this story here.
• As Safair and Airlink prepare to merge, the Competition Commission steps in to prohibit it as the Commission felt that the merger would remove a viable competitor from the market. Read more about this story
• Airlink will soon be opening a new route between OR Tambo Airport and the seaside town of Margate in KZN. Read more on this story here.