(Posted 23rd December 2025)
Airlink’s new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft entered service this morning, in time for the Christmas and New Year rush, with its inaugural flight, number 4Z 553, from the airline’s main base at O.R. Tambo International Airport to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.
Airlink is the first carrier in Southern Africa to operate the state-of-the-art E195-E2s, which are powered by the super fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney PW1009G Geared Turbo-Fan (GTF) engines.
The new jetliners, which seat up to 136 passengers in a comfortable two-by-two economy cabin layout – there are no middle seats on Airlink aircraft – will provide Airlink with additional capacity on high-density domestic routes such as Johannesburg – Durban, Cape Town – Hoedspruit, Gqeberha-Johannesburg and Cape Town-Mbombela (Nelspruit), which are popular all year round with business and leisure travellers.
Simultaneously, the E195-E2s’ extended range in comparison with its predecessor model, will extend Airlink’s reach, creating new opportunities to connect more destinations and markets across sub-Saharan Africa.
Airlink CEO, Mr de Villiers Engelbrecht, says: “The E195-E2s’ entry into Airlink service is set to deliver significant competitive advantages alongside commercial, economic and operational efficiencies. The new E2s and our current E-Jets have very similar flight decks, operating procedures and handling characteristics, which simplifies pilot, cabin crew and engineering training and support, which streamlined the entry into service. I have no doubt our customers will appreciate the comfort of the E195-E2’s cabin which is without a doubt the best in class.”
The new aircraft’s entry into service marks the culmination of a multi-faceted and comprehensive safety oversight process involving the aircraft’s certification by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) as well as its validation and approval of Airlink’s training principles and facilities, its operational procedures and readiness, and its engineering support facilities capabilities to maintain the new aircraft and engine combination.
Airlink will lease ten of the aircraft from Azorra, the Fort Lauderdale-based lease, finance and asset management firm. It has taken delivery of its first three. The other seven aircraft, which will feature a two-class cabin configuration, will be delivered from Embraer’s factory in Brazil, over the next two years.
