Local airline Airlink changes its relationship with SAA
South African private-sector airline Airlink, which, for some time now has had a franchise agreement with State-owned flag-carrier South African Airways (SAA) – which is currently under business rescue – announced on Thursday that the two airlines had replaced that franchise agreement with a new commercial relationship, which would come into effect on June 11. One consequence of this change in relationship is that Airlink will no longer use SAA flight codes (with the prefix SA8), instead adopting its own, unique, flight code, which will be prefixed 4Z.
“While we intend working with SAA’s business rescue practitioners to find a solution that enables SAA to continue its important role in the Southern African market, we have a responsibility to take action to preserve Airlink’s viability as a financially-robust, independent and privately-owned airline,” stressed Airlink CEO and MD Rodger Foster. “However, should SAA’s circumstances worsen, then Airlink will activate the transition sooner – immediately, if necessary.”
With its own flight code, Airlink will be able to develop new routes and flight frequencies on its own. It will also be able to enter into new agreements with major international airlines. It will allow the airline to increase its commercial reach.
“Marketing and selling flights under our own 4Z code is an exciting development for Airlink as we propagate our business and take advantage of new market opportunities,” he said. “At the same time, we will be able to strengthen our vital partnership with SAA.”
Tickets with 4Z flight codes were available from Thursday. Customers who already have SA8 flight-coded tickets for flights from June 11 onwards will need to be re-accommodated by Airlink but, otherwise, their tickets will remain valid.
“We sincerely regret any short term inconvenience these changes may cause for our customers,” he assured. “This represents the best way to ensure we continue serving all our passengers in a seamless manner, whilst also securing the best interests of Airlink, its customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders for the future.”
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation