Airlink launches new route to East London

As Mango and South African Airways shrink their domestic operations, domestic and regional carrier Airlink has confirmed it will launch a mid-morning flight between Johannesburg and East London from 16 March 2020. 

"The key objective of this flight is to provide connections with international and regional flights arriving in the early morning at OR Tambo International," the airline said in a statement. 

The flights will depart daily from Johannesburg at 10:10 arriving in East London at 11:45 the return flight will depart East London at 12:15 arriving in Johannesburg at 13:45.

These flight times coincide with connections for international travellers to connect seamlessly with Airlink following their arrival on South African Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar, Cathay Pacific and the other global partner flights off their early morning long-haul arrivals at OR Tambo, minimizing time spent in airport transfers.  

Airlink flights will operate under the “SA8” flight code until 10 June 2020, after which they will be operated under Airlink’s unique “4Z” code. “4Z” tickets are already available through travel agents, tour operators and online at www.flyairlink.com.

Airlink says its E-jet services will offer an "intra-continental style business class service". 

The cabin layout features expansive business class seats and provides economy class travellers with enhanced comfort by way of a generous seat pitch in a two plus two abreast seating configurations. Each seat offers either a window or an aisle option and ample overhead bin space to accommodate carry-on items. The E190 E-jets are configured with 6 business and 92 economy class seats.