With the summer holiday season behind us, leap into the vibrant canvas of a new year, and take off to a new term, semester, or business venture with Airlink, as you navigate your way back to school, varsity, or work effortlessly in 2024.
With a fleet of more than 60 modern jetliners, customers are spoilt for choice with flights across southern Africa, all of which include free luggage and sporting allowances, complimentary onboard catering, seamless connectivity, and a nationally recognised punctuality record as measured by the Airports Company South Africa; you will arrive at your destination on time and relaxed.
As Southern Africa’s premier, privately-owned regional airline, Airlink offers more than 225 daily flights to over 45 destinations in 15 African countries, including Madagascar and St Helena Island, and further afield through 30-plus commercial agreements with some of the world’s largest, trusted, and well-known inter-continental airline brands, five of which are codeshare partnerships, as well as travel industry associations and accreditations, and through its FlyNamibia franchise.
Children (under 12 years) and infants (under two years) paying at least 75% of the adult fare are entitled to the same baggage allowance as adults. Infants, not entitled to a seat, are permitted 10kg of checked-in baggage in addition to one collapsible pram/buggy and one infant car seat. Plus, Airlink’s free Unaccompanied Minor service ensures children travelling alone are safely reunited with their families.
Take advantage of Airlink’s all-inclusive fares in all travel classes with no middle seat on the majority of flights and receive up to 20kg free checked baggage plus 15kg sporting equipment and up to 8kg hand or cabin baggage in Economy Class.
Experience luxury with Airlink’s intra-continental style Business Class service. Enjoy up to 30kg checked baggage allowance plus 15kg sporting equipment and up to 8kg hand or cabin baggage, dedicated Business Class check-in counters at main airports, access to SLOW Lounges at selected airports in South Africa, and lounge access in Windhoek and Blantyre where you can unwind before your flight.
Airlink’s Business Class cabin features expansive seats with enhanced comfort, generous seat pitch in a two-plus-one abreast seating configuration on the majority of flights, and overhead bin stowage to accommodate carry-on items.
Loyalty rewards with Airlink Skybucks
In addition, Airlink launched its innovative Skybucks frequent flyer rewards programme in March last year.
Skybucks is a premium loyalty programme, which embodies an exclusive experience for frequent travellers, where loyalty is rewarded on more than 85,000 annual flights throughout Southern Africa.
Skybucks is a revenue-based frequent-flyer programme allowing members to easily earn rewards (Skybucks) per sector flown and use accumulated Skybucks as a form of payment in all classes of travel on any Airlink or 4Z flight.
The Skybucks frequent flyer programme has three tiers: Blue (base), Red and Emerald. Members can easily achieve the next higher tier determined by the number of sectors flown while accumulating Skybucks as a percentage of the base fare and the YQ (fuel levy) tax on every ticket purchased. The higher a member’s tier, the more Skybucks can be earned.
Spending Skybucks is just as easy as earning them. Members can simply use accumulated Skybucks as part payment in conjunction with their normal debit or credit card payment, thus eliminating the need to search for any limited redemption availability before using their available Skybucks balance.
Tier benefits are designed to give benefits to all Airlink’s valued customers.
Some Skybucks benefits include:
- More travel, more rewards: Your travel frequency and loyalty earn you higher tiers, unlocking greater earning potential, and accumulating more Skybucks with each journey you embark on.
- Family pooling: Share the perks and benefits of Skybucks with your loved ones by pooling your Skybucks and enhancing the experience of extraordinary travel for you and your family.
- Transferable rewards: Enjoy the flexibility of transferring your rewards amongst members, making it easier to redeem, and seamlessly connecting you across Southern Africa.
Moving up through the tiers
Blue tier
- Less than 18 sectors flown per annum.
- Earn up to 1% in Skybucks per amount spent on the ticket base fare and YQ tax.
Red tier
- More than 18 flown sectors per year are required to reach this tier.
- Earn up to 3% in Skybucks per amount spent on the ticket base fare and YQ tax.
- Priority check-in.
- Priority boarding.
Emerald tier
- More than 35 flown sectors annually are required to reach this tier.
- Earn up to 5% in Skybucks per amount spent on the ticket base fare and YQ tax.
- Priority check-in.
- Priority boarding.
- Priority baggage.
- Lounge access:
- SLOW Lounge access throughout South Africa where available.
- Bidvest Lounge access where no SLOW Lounge is available (Ts and Cs apply).
- Paragon Premium Lounge access at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, Namibia.
- Sunbird Lounge access at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre, Malawi.
- Complimentary upgrades to Business Class at the airport (subject to availability).
- 5kg extra baggage allowance.
- Fast Track service in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
For more information, or to join Skybucks, visit https://skybucks.flyairlink.com/en/za/about-skybucks or https://skybucks.flyairlink.com/en/za/
Airlink has also recently added new routes, and additional flights, and introduced bigger aircrafts on certain routes. From the end of October last year, the daily mid-morning flight from Johannesburg to East London was upgraded to a larger E-Jet, offering more comfort and space for travellers. At the same time, an additional daily return flight at 14h00 from Johannesburg to Harare, Zimbabwe, was added to provide customers with greater flexibility in their travel plans. From November, an extra return service from Johannesburg at 08h45 to Harare was introduced on Fridays and Sundays.
In November, Airlink also added a second seasonal flight to St Helena Island, which will operate until the end of February 2024.
Starting in December 2023, Airlink upgauged all daily return services between Johannesburg and Richards Bay to a 74-seat Embraer 170 E-Jet, ensuring that customers on this route enjoy enhanced comfort and convenience. And added an additional day-time flight to Dar es Salaam every Tuesday and Thursday from 14 December 2023.
In response to popular demand, Airlink added a fourth weekly frequency on its Johannesburg-Lilongwe route by introducing a Saturday return flight. Airlink now serves Lilongwe on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. All flights will depart OR Tambo International Airport at 11h00, arriving in Lilongwe at 13h20. The return service departs at 14h10, arriving in Johannesburg at 16h35.
The airline also added two additional frequencies per week between South Africa and Botswana. A Saturday flight departing OR Tambo in Johannesburg at 06h20, arriving in Gaborone at 07h15 – departing at 07h45, arriving in Johannesburg at 08h40. The new Sunday frequency, leaves Johannesburg at 09h15, arriving in Gaborone at 10h10. The return flight departs Gaborone at 10h40, arriving at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) at 11h35.
Airlink’s dedication to growth and innovation in the aviation industry was further enhanced with new airport services in Johannesburg. Customers can now use a new Reservations and Ticketing counter as well as a new dedicated Skybucks counter at OR Tambo International Airport.
These new counters aim to provide personalised services for Airlink’s valued customers, further improving their airport experience, and showing the airline’s commitment to providing an exceptional travel experience.
In preparation for what promises to be a busy travel year, Airlink has expanded its fleet by leasing additional Embraer E190 aircrafts. These additions align with Airlink’s growth plans, offering the necessary capacity to support its expanding network.
This fleet expansion showcases Airlink’s dedication to modernising and diversifying its fleet to provide customers with a seamless and reliable travel experience, and in doing so, has allowed Airlink to add capacity on several routes to meet travel demand in the year ahead.
Starting on 5 February, Airlink will offer two additional weekly services to Blantyre in Malawi from Johannesburg. The new flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays, departing Johannesburg at 11h20, and arriving in Blantyre at 13h25. The return flights will depart at 14h10, arriving in Johannesburg at 16h35. Johannesburg-Blantyre flights will now operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
At the same time, Airlink will upgauge its aircraft on the Johannesburg-Lilongwe route in Malawi from its 37-seat Embraer Regional Jet to a larger and more comfortable 74-seat Embraer 170 E-Jet.
From 26 February, Airlink will re-introduce its Durban to Bloemfontein service. Flights will operate Monday through Saturday, departing Durban at 07h00 and arriving at 08h00 in Bloemfontein. The return flight will depart at 08h30, arriving in Durban at 09h35.
On 1 March, an additional service between Johannesburg and Beira in Mozambique, will be introduced on a Friday. Leaving Johannesburg at 10h45, the flight will arrive in Beira at 12h25. The return flight will depart Beira at 12h55 and land in Johannesburg at 14h55.
As of 8 March, an extra weekly service between Johannesburg and Upington will operate on Fridays, departing at 07h05 and arriving at 08h35. The return flight will depart Upington at 09h05 and arrive at 10h30.
From 1 April 2024, Airlink will offer additional flights to Sikhuphe in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The flights will operate Monday through Friday, departing Johannesburg at 10h00, and arriving at 10h50. The return service will depart at 11h20, at arrive in Johannesburg at 12h25.
Elevate your travel experience in 2024 with Airlink’s warm hospitality. Enjoy the journey and the destination and create memorable experiences when you choose Airlink, where every flight is a step closer to your New Year’s goals.
For more information about Airlink’s routes or to book your flights, visit www.flyairlink.com, download the FlyAirlink App, contact Airlink Reservations on +27 (0)11 451-7300, or visit your travel agent.
*To secure a pre-booked sporting equipment allowance no later than 72 hours prior to departure, contact your travel agent or the Airlink Reservations Support Desk.
Enjoy the journey and the destination. Fly Airlink – connecting you throughout Southern Africa.