Airlink’s Inaugural Flight Touches Down in Maputo

Today, Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, launched the first ever scheduled direct air service between Cape Town and Maputo.

The inaugural flight departed Cape Town on schedule at 17:10 and is due to arrive in Maputo, on time, at 19:40. The first return flight is due to depart Maputo at 06:10 tomorrow morning and land in Cape Town at 09:00. All times are local. 

Airlink is operating a modern and efficient 37-seat Embraer 135 twin-engine jetliner to develop the route, which will initially be operated three times a week.

Flight 4Z 489 departs Cape Town at 17:10 and arrives Maputo at 19.40 on Wednesday, Fridays, and Sundays. Flight 4Z 490 departs Maputo at 06.10 and arrives Cape Town at 09.00 on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

“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 trade commerce and tourism between the two markets. 

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 African,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

“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.

Maputo is 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,” said Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro.

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). 

In addition to Maputo, Airlink already operates direct regional flights connecting Cape Town with Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Harare, Victoria Falls and Maun.  

These services are scheduled to provide convenient onward connections with Airlink’s comprehensive domestic South African network and with long-haul flights operated by its various global carrier partners. 

Customers can book, manage and get the latest information about Airlink flights on flyairlink.com, the airline's mobile app or through travel agents.