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Airlink (4Z) Guide

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Where Airlink flies from Johannesburg, which aircraft it uses, what its cabins and bag allowances look like, and how to check in for a 4Z flight. Ask a question
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In short

Airlink is a South African regional airline based at O. R. Tambo International in Johannesburg, with Cape Town as another base. Its all-Embraer fleet flies to 45+ destinations in South Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, including smaller regional towns. Airlink has no alliance and runs Skybucks. Business and Economy cabins are available.

Airlink is a regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Originally focused on linking smaller towns with major hubs, it now also flies mainline routes, with more than 60 routes to over 45 destinations across Southern Africa.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Airlink. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Airlink (IATA: 4Z, ICAO: LNK) is a privately owned regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with hubs at O.R. Tambo International in Johannesburg and Cape Town International. It flies more than 60 routes to over 45 destinations in Southern Africa with an all-Embraer jet fleet, and suits travellers heading to smaller South African cities, safari gateways and neighbouring countries.

From Link Airways to an independent Airlink

Rodger Foster and Barrie Webb formed Airlink in 1992 after buying the business of the liquidated Link Airways. For 23 years it flew as SA Airlink under a franchise agreement with South African Airways. That agreement ended in early 2020, and the airline dropped the SA prefix to become simply Airlink.

Private owners and Qatar Airways' 25% stake

Airlink is privately owned. The Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust holds 32.5%, Qatar Airways bought 25% in August 2024, and South African Airways keeps 2.96%. The founders remain shareholders.

Johannesburg and Cape Town hubs

Johannesburg and Cape Town are the two hubs. The network reaches smaller South African cities and regional centres across Southern Africa, including safari gateways and St Helena in the South Atlantic.

Skybucks and partner airlines

Skybucks, Airlink's own frequent flyer programme, launched in March 2023. Airlink codeshares with about 11 airlines, including British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways and United, and has interline agreements with more than 20 more. Those links let a long-haul passenger arriving in Johannesburg or Cape Town book an onward Airlink flight on the same ticket.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
Airlink official website

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  1. Airlink official website
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Good to know

  • Founded1992
  • Other gatewaysCPT

Everything you should know

Airline codes

4Z · LNK

IATA · ICAO · callsign “LINK”

Every Airlink flight number begins with 4Z. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code LNK, and the radio callsign is LINK.

Key facts

Main hub

Johannesburg (JNB)

O. R. Tambo International

Also flies abroad fromCape Town (CPT)

Network

45+ destinations

South Africa · Southern Africa · Indian Ocean

Airlink flies more than 60 routes to over 45 destinations in Southern Africa from its hubs at Johannesburg and Cape Town, including safari gateways and St Helena.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Business

and Economy

Business and Economy on its all-Embraer jet fleet. Airlink sells business class on selected aircraft and economy on every flight.

Compare cabins

Good to know

Airlink serves Skukuza in Kruger National Park and St Helena island. Its loyalty programme is Skybucks, and its official website is flyairlink.com.

Frequent flyer

Skybucks

No global alliance

Skybucks is where Airlink flights earn points; the airline has not joined Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.

How it works

Start a new search

Before you book Airlink, run the same dates through bookingMentor: rival airlines on routes from JNB appear in one set of results.

Bon voyage on your next Airlink flight.

Select dates

At a glance

Airlink (IATA: 4Z, ICAO: LNK) is a South African regional airline based in Johannesburg. Founded in 1992, it flies an all-Embraer fleet from Johannesburg and Cape Town to over 45 destinations in South Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Key facts about Airlink
HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
Fleet typesEmbraer ERJ-135, ERJ-140, E170, E175, E190, E195 and E195-E2
Frequent flyerSkybucks
Official websiteflyairlink.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
These are the cities on Airlink’s published route map. Timetables change through the year, so check the Airlink schedule before you plan around a route. Search flights

South Africa

Johannesburg (JNB) departures9 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

As of December 2025 Airlink had about 71 Embraer aircraft: 16 ERJ-135s, 11 ERJ-140s, 2 E170s, 4 E175s, 28 E190s, 6 E195s and 4 E195-E2s.

  • Embraer ERJ-135 Regional jet Smaller and thinner routes
  • Embraer ERJ-140 Regional jet Smaller and thinner routes
  • Embraer 170 Regional jet Regional routes
  • Embraer 175 Regional jet Regional routes
  • Embraer 190 Regional jet Busier regional routes
  • Embraer 195 Regional jet Busier regional routes
  • Embraer 195-E2 Regional jet · 4 in service The newest jets in the fleet, on high-demand regional routes

Cabin classes

Airlink sells two cabins, Business and Economy. The aircraft and route decide which Airlink cabins you can book.

Business Larger Embraer jets

Regional business

Business class on selected aircraft.

Priority check-inLounge access

Economy All flights

Standard seat

The main cabin on every flight.

Snacks and drinks

Skybucks

Airlink’s loyalty programme. Join Skybucks online before you fly so the trip counts.

Airlink’s Skybucks programme lets members earn rewards on Airlink flights. Check the airline’s website for current rules.

Baggage allowance

Airlink does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your 4Z e-ticket shows what you have.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

Airlink sets the allowance by fare and cabin. On a ticket that combines Airlink with a long-haul partner, check the allowance listed for each flight. Your e-ticket shows the figure.

Pro tip: on the smaller ERJ-135 and ERJ-140 jets, check the cabin bag rules before you fly.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Getting through check-in for Airlink is simpler in this order. Start online and finish at bag drop.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Use flyairlink.com to check in for eligible flights. Have your Airlink booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Before leaving for the airport, check that your passport is valid and that you hold any visa or entry document needed at the other end of your Airlink flight. Domestic 4Z passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Each airport has its own Airlink check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international 4Z departures.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    At the airport, take your bags to the Airlink bag-drop point. Collect a printed 4Z boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.

    Airlink counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official Airlink website.
Check in with Airlink
Save money

Cheap tickets

Ways to pay less for an Airlink ticket, from the dates you choose to the fare type you buy.

  1. 01

    Look across the week

    Airlink fares are often lower on midweek departures. Search a spread of dates around your trip to find the cheaper days.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid the holiday peaks

    Holiday peaks push up fares on routes from Johannesburg. Shift your Airlink trip just outside them where you can.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Price the bundle, not the base fare

    An Airlink fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Fly into the bush

    Airlink flies to safari gateways such as Skukuza, Hoedspruit, Maun and Victoria Falls. Book early in the dry season.

    Kruger · Okavango · Victoria Falls
  5. 05

    Join Skybucks

    Add a Skybucks number to your booking so points from your 4Z flights are credited.

    Before you fly

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Airlink alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Airlink flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Airlink.
We checked these Airlink answers with the airline’s own pages and public airline records on 10 October 2026.

General

Johannesburg is the main one, and most regional connections across Southern Africa start there. Cape Town is the second hub.