Airlink Cape Town and Southern African network expansion

Airlink has expanded its Cape Town flight network through the introduction of new regional and domestic routes.

The airline launched a twice-weekly direct service between Cape Town and Mauritius using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. This route is intended to facilitate tourism and business connections between South Africa and Mauritius, offering a non-stop alternative to connections via Johannesburg.

Further expansion includes the scheduled launch of daily flights between Cape Town and Johannesburg’s Lanseria International Airport starting December 4, 2026. Operated with Embraer E190 aircraft, this domestic service aims to serve passengers traveling to western Gauteng and the North West province. Airlink plans to increase the Lanseria service from two daily return flights to four by March 22, 2027.

For the 2026 summer travel season, Airlink is further increasing frequencies and routes across Southern Africa. Between October and December, the airline will launch a new service between Lanseria and Harare, Zimbabwe, in November. From December, the Cape Town to Harare service will increase to three flights per week, and two weekend return services will be added between Cape Town and George.

Additional summer adjustments include a new daily return service between Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International and George, and an extra flight to Nosy Be, Madagascar. The airline is also integrating its Embraer E195-E2 fleet into more routes, including daily Johannesburg to Nairobi flights and a new Business Class product on the Johannesburg to Zanzibar route. CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht stated these changes are intended to provide customers with “more choice and a better experience” during the peak season.