(Posted 15th February 2023)
Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, will reinstate weekly scheduled services between Johannesburg and Nosy Be from 23rd of June 2023 as part of its drive to restore flights between South Africa and Madagascar to pre-pandemic levels.
It follows Airlink’s resumption of flights to Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, in January 2023 after the island republic lifted its ban on flights between the two countries which were suspended for nearly three years.
“Having just recently re-established connectivity between Johannesburg and Antananarivo, which is a predominantly business and trade route, Airlink is preparing to re-ignite tourism between the two countries by restarting its popular Nosy Be service. In addition to visitors from Southern Africa, Airlink will be making Nosy Be more accessible than before thanks to the convenience and variety of connections with Airlink and its growing family of more than 20 global airline partners, via our main hub at O.R. Tambo International Airport. By reinstating the route, we are giving our customers yet another great destination to choose from,” explained Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.
Nosy Be is a unique Indian Ocean Island situated off Madagascar’s north-west coast. It is famous for its pristine beaches and unique fauna and flora, including the world-famous lemurs. Prior to the pandemic it had become increasingly popular with South African tourists. Nosy Be (which is Malagasy for “Big Island”) is also ideally suited for outdoor adventure and water sport holidays in a non-commercialized environment.
To assist travellers wanting to take advantage of Nosy Be’s world-class scuba-diving, snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and sport fishing, Airlink provides a generous complimentary 15kg sporting equipment allowance in addition to the 20kg Economy Class checked-luggage allowance. More information on Nosy Be is available here, with information on sports equipment luggage allowance here.
South Africa is an important source market for Madagascar’s leisure tourism sector, with Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport ideally located for connecting flights with Airlink and partner airlines, to and from destinations in Southern Africa, Americas, UK, Europe and Asia.
Airlink will operate its Embraer E-170 on the Nosy Be route.
The service will re-commence on 23rd of June 2023 with a once weekly flight on Sundays. In addition, Airlink currently operates three flights weekly between Johannesburg and Antananarivo, which will increase to a daily service as demand permits.
Flight Schedule with effect from 23 June 2023
4Z 246 depart Johannesburg at 09:10, arrive in Nosy Be at 13:40 on Sundays
4Z 247 depart Nosy Be at 14:25, arrive in Johannesburg at 17.10 on Sundays
Customers can book and manage Airlink journeys and find information about destinations as well as health and safety onboard Airlink flights on the website, Airlink’s smartphone app or through travel agents.
Airlink was established in 1992 and is an independent, privately-owned, premier airline. Choice and reliability are Airlink hallmarks, with the airline currently serving more than 45 destinations in 15 countries throughout Southern Africa, Madagascar and St Helena Island.
Airlink has consistently been South Africa’s most on-time airline over the last two years*, with its fleet of more than 60 modern jetliners achieving a 96.94% average on-time performance so far this year. Airlink is an International Air Transport Association (IATA) member and accredited under its safety audit programme.
* Measured by the Airports Company South Africa.
