South African regional airline Airlink has announced that it will start direct flights between Cape Town in South Africa and Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, on August 31. This will be the first direct air service between the two cities.

“Airlink is responding to the call of the travelling market [sic] for a direct service between the two coastal cities, which are also growing important centres of economic activity, including trade and tourism,” explained Airlink CEO and MD Rodger Foster. “By flying direct, instead of via Johannesburg, we will more than halve the door-to-door travelling time, putting more hours back in our customers’ hands to do business and to enjoy the variety of activities, attractions, food and culture that Maputo offers.”

The Cape Town-Maputo service will be operated three times a week. The flights from Cape Town to the Mozambican capital will be coded 4Z 489 and operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing at 17h10 and arriving in Maputo at 19h40. The return flights from Maputo will be coded 4Z 490 and operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 06h10 and arriving in Cape Town at 09h00.

“This new route also supports Airlink’s strategy to grow and develop its network and schedule of flights connecting Cape Town with other key business and tourism destinations throughout Southern Africa,” he pointed out. The airline already has a strong presence in the Mozambique market, with direct flights between Johannesburg and Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Pemba, Tete and Vilanculos. The airline also operates direct flights between Mbombela/Nelspruit in South Africa and Vilanculos.

The new Cape Town-Maputo service will be operated, at least initially, using Embraer ERJ135 regional jets. These can each carry up to 37 passengers. The ERJ135 is the smallest member of Embraer’s ERJ family, the others being the 44-passenger ERJ140 and the 50-passenger ERJ145. Airlink also operates the ERJ140.

Airlink currently has a fleet of more than 55 modern jet airliners. With these, it serves 45 destinations in 13 countries across the Southern African region (although flights to Madagascar are currently suspended), plus St Helena Island in the South Atlantic.