On Wednesday (August 31), Airlink launched the first-ever scheduled direct air service between Cape Town and Maputo.
The first flight departed from Cape Town on time at 17h10 and arrived in Maputo at 19h40. The first return flight departed Maputo at 06h10 yesterday (Thursday, Sept 1) and landed in Cape Town at 09h00. Airlink is operating its 37-seat Embraer 135 twin-engine jetliner to develop the route, which will initially be serviced with three return flights a week.
“With this new Cape Town-Maputo service, Airlink is more than halving the travel time between two of the region’s major cities. By making it easier and more efficient for people to do business, Airlink will help to unlock fresh opportunities to boost tourism between the two markets,” said Airlink CEO and MD, Rodger Foster.
“It is also in line with our strategy to increase our choice of connections from Cape Town with key business and tourism destinations throughout Southern Africa,” he added.
“Cape Town Air Access is excited to welcome Airlink’s inaugural flight between Maputo and Cape Town. This addition increases the carrier’s expansive regional network to a total of six destinations and 51 frequencies a week, making Airlink the carrier with the most cross-border frequencies operated out of Cape Town,” said Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro.
She said Maputo was a major destination for Cape Town with over 21 500 two-way international passengers recorded in 2019. “A direct route between the two destinations is a great achievement and we wish Airlink all the success with their new route.”
Mozambique is an important market for Airlink, which currently provides flights from Johannesburg to Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Pemba, Tete and Vilanculos (which Airlink also serves directly from Mbombela/Nelspruit).
Flight schedule
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4Z 489 departs Cape Town at 17h10 and arrives in Maputo at 19h40 (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
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4Z 490 departs Maputo 06h10 and arrives in Cape Town at 09h00 (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
