Airlink

Infobox Airline
airline = Airlink

logo_size = 125px
fleet_size = 22
destinations =
IATA = 4Z
ICAO = LNK
callsign = LINK
parent =
company_slogan =
founded = 1995
headquarters =
key_people =
hubs = OR Tambo International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
website = http://www.flyairlink.co.za/

Airlink is an airline based in South Africa. It is privately owned and has developed into South Africa's first feeder network aimed at linking the smaller towns, regional centers and hubs throughout South Africa. It is no longer part of an alliance with South African Airways and South African Express, but still maintains various co-operative agreements.

History

Airlink was formed in 1995 and incorporated a range of other airlines: Midlands Aviation (founded in 1967), Lowveld Aviation Services, Magnum Airways, Border Air, Citi Air and Link Airways. It has a 49% share in Zimbabwe Airlink and a 40% share in Airlink Swaziland. In 1997 Airlink joined South African Airways and South African Express Airways in a strategic alliance, and was rebranded as South African Airlink, but this partnership was discontinued in early 2006.

Services

Airlink operates the following services (at March 2005):

*Johannesburg to Beira, Bulawayo, George, Mafikeng, Mala Mala, Manzini, Margate, Maseru, Mthatha, Ndola, Nelspruit, Phalaborwa, Pietermaritzburg, Polokwane and Upington
*Durban to Bloemfontein, East London, George, Maputo and Nelspruit.
*Cape Town to George, Kimberley, Lanseria, Nelspruit, Sun City and Upington
*Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein and East London.

Fleet

The Airlink fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 24 September 2008) [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=LNK&al_op=1] :

*1 Avro RJ85 (which is leased from Safair)
*4 BAe 146-200 [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/04/05/213101/picture-sa-airlink-bae-146-ready-for-delivery.html Picture: SA Airlink BAe 146 ready for delivery-05/04/2007-London-Flightglobal.com ] ]
*5 Embraer ERJ 135LR
*12 BAe Jetstream 41

On order: 2 Embraer 170-100LR

As of 24 September 2008, the average age of the Airlink fleet is 14.3 years ( [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/South%20African%20Airlink.htm] ).

External links

* [http://www.flyairlink.co.za/ Airlink]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=LNK&al_op=1 Airlink Fleet]

References