South African regional airline Airlink started its new service between Johannesburg and Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday. The carrier is the first private-sector airline to operate this route, and the commencement of this service means that business and leisure travellers now have greater choice regarding flights between these two major centres.

“We are excited to add Kenya to Airlink’s comprehensive sub-Saharan route network,” enthused Airlink CEO and MD Rodger Foster. “It is an important, but under-served, route between two major economic hubs and which, since 2019 until today, offered no competition.”

The new service is operated with the airline’s 98-seat Embraer E-190 airliners. Registration ZS-YAU was the example that flew the first service into Nairobi, where it received the traditional water cannon salute, as it taxied into the terminal. Flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi are coded 4Z 070 and depart from South Africa’s economic heart at 09h40 (arriving in Nairobi at 14h45). The return flights are coded 4Z 071 and leave Nairobi at 15h45 (arriving in Johannesburg at 19h05). The flights are operated every day of the week.

“Airlink’s entry on the route should be seen in the context of efforts by South Africa and Kenya to bolster bilateral tourism, trade and economic ties,” he pointed out. “Our competitive and convenient flights will promote tourism in both markets by letting travellers take advantage of the visa-free requirements for Kenyans visiting South Africa and South Africans wanting to visit Kenya.”

Nairobi is the third major East African city to be served by Airlink, following Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, and Entebbe, in Uganda. Travellers using the airline’s Nairobi service will also be able to connect to Airlink’s domestic South African and regional Southern African networks. They will also be able to connect with Airlink’s intercontinental partner airlines.

The carrier’s E-190s have a two-class cabin configuration, namely Business class and Economy class. Business class passengers have a check-in baggage allowance of 30 kg each, while that for Economy class passengers is 20 kg (plus a 15 kg sporting equipment allowance).