(Posted 19th September 2022)
Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline today resumed scheduled services between Johannesburg and Richards Bay with the first flight having touched down at the coastal town’s airport this morning.
The reinstatement of Airlink’s daily flights comes after a pandemic enforced 20-month hiatus, during which Richards Bay Airport secured the necessary resources to accommodate scheduled airline operations in compliance with international-standard civil aviation safety requirements.
“Richards Bay plays a crucial role in KwaZulu-Natal’s industrial and trade mix and Airlink’s flights connect the coal terminus town and the businesses it hosts to other markets and economic centres. By doing so, Airlink is enhancing Richard Bay’s competitiveness and its attractiveness as a modern, efficient industrial destination for trade, investment and job creation. We have looked forward to welcoming Richards Bay customers back onboard and, with the necessary support and service from Airports Company South Africa, the City of uMhlathuze and the Provincial Government, we will be able to play our part in developing the local economy,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.
With the resumption of flights on the route, Airlink is re-connecting Richards Bay with the world with a choice of convenient connections to Airlink’s expansive network of domestic and regional destinations as well as those around the world through Airlink’s global airline partners.
Initially, Airlink will operate its 29-seat Jetstream 41 turboprop airliners on the Richards Bay flights, with a view to using larger jets once sufficient traffic volumes have been achieved on the route:
| Flt No. | Effective | Freq | From | Depart | To | Arrive | |
| 4Z 881 | 19 Sep 22 | 1234… | JNB | 0615 | RCB | 0745 | |
| 4Z 882 | 19 Sep 22 | 1234… | RCB | 0815 | JNB | 0945 | |
| 4Z 883 | 22 Sep 22 | …45.7 | JNB | 1100 | RCB | 1230 | |
| 4Z 884 | 22 Sep 22 | …45.7 | RCB | 1255 | JNB | 1430 | |
| 4Z 885 | 19 Sep 22 | 12345.7 | JNB | 1530 | RCB | 1700 | |
| 4Z 886 | 19 Sep 22 | 12345.7 | RCB | 1730 | JNB | 1905 | |
| 4Z 889 | 24 Sep 22 | …..6. | JNB | 0815 | RCB | 0945 | |
| 4Z 890 | 24 Sep 22 | …..6. | RCB | 1015 | JNB | 1150 | |
| Flt No. | Effective | Freq | From | Depart | To | Arrive | |
| 4Z 883 | 31 Oct 22 | 123…. | JNB | 1100 | RCB | 1230 | |
| 4Z 884 | 31 Oct 22 | 123…. | RCB | 1255 | JNB | 1430 | |
| Flt No. | Effective | Freq | From | Depart | To | Arrive | |
| 4Z 883 | 16 Dec 22 | 1234567 | JNB | 1100 | RCB | 1230 | |
| 4Z 884 | 16 Dec 22 | 1234567 | RCB | 1255 | JNB | 1430 |
Travel on Airlink flights can be planned, booked and managed on www.flyairlink.com, on the FlyAirlink smartphone app and through travel agents.
About Airlink
Airlink was established in 1992 and is an independent, privately-owned, premier airline.
Choice and reliability are Airlink hallmarks and it serves over 45 destinations in 13 countries throughout Southern Africa, Madagascar* and St Helena Island.
Airlink continues to be the most on-time domestic airline, with its growing fleet of more than 60 modern jetliners achieving a 95.14% average on-time performance in August 2022 and 96% for the year to date**. Airlink is an International Air Transport Association (IATA) member and accredited under its safety audit programme.
* Flights serving Madagascar will resume when the current flight restrictions are lifted.
**measured by the Airports Company South Africa.
