Airlink's CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, says the airline expects a strong revenue lift this fiscal year as incoming Embraer jets open more flying across Africa. The plan is to make the route map roughly 10% larger and move into two additional countries. Last week's inaugural to Mauritius and the new Cape Town - Zanzibar link bring the tally to 67 destinations across 16 countries.
For the year ended in August, Airlink transported about 4.5 million passengers, a 5.5% increase from the prior period. "It is probably our most ambitious revenue growth year in history," Engelbrecht said, while declining to provide specific figures. He added that there are "too many opportunities on the continent," with expansion aimed at western, eastern and central Africa. "We are quite encouraged by the demand in the regional market, and we look forward to a quite good peak season," he said.
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Airlink flies only Embraer aircraft and has more than 70 in service. So far this year, it has taken four jets configured with business and economy cabins, with three more due by July, according to Engelbrecht. In 2025, the carrier took on 10 195-E2 aircraft, and the remaining deliveries are slated to be completed by mid-2027.
"Our fleet strategy is very deliberate in terms of Embraer," he said. "That's the right aircraft gauge for the markets that we service. It's typically markets that prefer frequency over capacity."
Engelbrecht said the pipeline of opportunities could keep the airline occupied for the next two years. For investors watching airlines, the takeaway is simple: capacity that matches regional demand and a clear fleet plan can set up steadier growth than splashy long-haul bets.
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