Airlink
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| Founded | 1995 | |||
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| Hubs | OR Tambo International Airport | |||
| Secondary hubs | King Shaka International Airport, Cape Town International Airport | |||
| Alliance | Star Alliance | |||
| Fleet size | 28 | |||
| Destinations | 27 | |||
| Company slogan | Freedom of the African Sky | |||
| Headquarters | Greenstone Hill Office Park, Modderfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa | |||
| Website | http://www.flyairlink.com/ | |||
SA Airlink (Pty) Ltd. is an airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is privately owned and has developed into South Africa's first feeder network aimed at linking the smaller towns, regional centers and hubs throughout South Africa. It is no longer part of an alliance with South African Airways and South African Express, but still maintains various co-operative agreements.
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[edit] History
Airlink was formed in 1995 and incorporated a range of other airlines: Midlands Aviation (founded in 1967), Lowveld Aviation Services, Magnum Airways, Border Air, Citi Air and Link Airways. It has a 40% share in Swaziland Airlink. In 1997 Airlink joined South African Airways and South African Express Airways in a strategic alliance which is governed by a franchise agreement.
On 23 December 2009 the SA Civil Aviation Authority grounded their fleet of 13 BAe Jetstream 41 planes.[2][3] Following audits of the airline's procedures and inspection of the grounded aircraft they were returned to service. A problem with a seal in the aircraft's Honeywell engines as well as the airline's maintenance procedures were found to be the cause of the safety issues.[4]
[edit] Destinations
Airlink serves the following destinations (as of February 2011) [5]:
- South Africa
- Bloemfontein – Bloemfontein Airport
- Cape Town – Cape Town International Airport
- Durban – King Shaka International Airport
- East London – East London Airport
- George – George Airport
- Johannesburg – OR Tambo International Airport Hub
- Kimberley – Kimberley Airport
- Nelspruit – Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
- Pietermaritzburg – Pietermaritzburg Airport
- Phalaborwa – Hendrik Van Eck Airport
- Polokwane – Polokwane International Airport
- Port Elizabeth – Port Elizabeth Airport
- Umtata – K. D. Matanzima Airport
- Upington – Upington Airport
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Mozambique
- Swaziland
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
[edit] Fleet
The Airlink fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 28 January 2012[update])[6]:
| Aircraft | In Service |
Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | |||
| Avro RJ85 | 8 | 14 — — |
69 83 97 |
83 83 97 |
4 leased from Safair |
| Embraer ERJ 135LR | 8 | 0 | 37 | 37 | two are operated for Swaziland Airlink |
| BAe Jetstream 41 | 13 | 0 | 29 | 29 | one is operated for Swaziland Airlink |
| Total | 28 | ||||
[edit] Incidents and accidents
- On 24 September 2009, Airlink Flight 8911, a BAe Jetstream 41, crashed in the suburb of Merebank shortly after takeoff from Durban International Airport, injuring its crew of three and one person on the ground.[7][8] The captain, Allister Freeman, died as a result of complications from his injuries on 7 October 2009.[9]
- On 7 December 2009, an Airlink Embraer ERJ 135 (registration:ZS-SJW) on scheduled flight SA 8625, overshot the runway when trying to land in wet weather at George Airport; no fatalities were reported. The flight from Cape Town to George Airport was cleared for an instrument landing (ILS) approach and prevailing weather conditions at the time were overcast, with light rain. The aircraft touched down in the area of the fourth landing marker. The landing appeared normal, however the aircraft did not vacate the runway but instead veered to the right and collided with approach lights before it burst through the aerodrome perimeter fence, coming to rest in a nose-down attitude on a public road. The aircraft was damage beyond economical repair.[10][11][12] The accident was caused by an incorrect sealant used on the runway, the airline was cleared of all blame. Airlink's insurers took legal action against the state-owned Airports Company of South Africa.[13]
[edit] Head office
Airlink has its head office in the 11th office block of the Greenstone Office Park in the Modderfontein suburb of Johannesburg.[14][15][16] In 2009 Airlink leased space in the office park.[16] The park is a part of the Greenstone commercial development, located in the Modderfontein site.[17]
Previously Airlink had its head office in Bonaero Park.[18][19]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/CNT/3-3-L.htm
- ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aCHIMvSi6jEE
- ^ http://www.saairlink.co.za/news/article61
- ^ DefenceWeb.co.za - Airlink Jetstream fleet all fit to fly
- ^ http://www.flyairlink.co.za/route_network.php
- ^ Airlink Current Fleet
- ^ "MEDIA RELEASE: ACCIDENT - AIRLINK FLIGHT Update #2 at 16h30" (Open Office XML) (Press release). Airlink. 24 September 2009. http://www.flyairlink.co.za/download.php?file=docs/1253803746/DUR%20PZB%2024%20Sept%2009%20doc%20media3.docx&PHPSESSID=27c551fc48ffd340ef04f9a5f236b86b. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
- ^ "Crash plane declared emergency". IOL. 24 September 2009. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090924135704450C935079. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
- ^ http://www.saairlink.co.za/news/article50?PHPSESSID=105073cdf87caf55fecdc1fd41c42f17
- ^ "Plane crash-lands in George". News24. http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/2e11ecffc03b40a2b11f747d42e23603/07-12-2009-11-51/Plane_crash-lands_in_George. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ^ Hradecky, Simon (2009-12-07). "Accident: SA Airlink E135 at George on Dec 7th 2009, overran runway". The Aviation Herald. http://avherald.com/h?article=423d32af&opt=0. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
- ^ "Airlink plane overshoots George runway". Mail & Guardian. 2009-12-07. http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-12-07-airlink-plane-overshoots-george-runway. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
- ^ Bussines Day - Airlink in clear, Acsa blamed for George near-disaster
- ^ "Map." Airlink. Retrieved on 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Contact us." Airlink. Retrieved on 6 February 2011. "Head Office (Modderfontein) [...] No.3, Greenstone Hill Office Park, Emerald Boulevard, Greenstone Hill, Modderfontein PO Box 7529, Bonaero Park, 1622, South Africa."
- ^ a b "Company Announcement: Barrow’s Latest Greenstone Hill Office Building Leased." Barrow Properties. 13 August 2009. Retrieved on 28 July 2010.
- ^ Donaldson, C. "Modderfontein’s Greenstone Success Showcases New Development Model." EProp. 11 October 2007. Retrieved on 15 September 2010.
- ^ "contact us." Airlink. 1 August 2008. Retrieved on 6 February 2011. "Head Office (Bonaero Park - Map)"
- ^ "Download a map to Airlink's Head Office." (Archive) Airlink. Retrieved on 30 September 2009.
[edit] External links
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