South African domestic and regional airline Airlink has announced that it is to start services from Johannesburg to the Mozambican coastal city of Nacala in February next year. Nacala will be the seventh destination in Mozambique served by the airline.

“By adding Nacala to our network, Airlink is able to provide additional vital connectivity for business and leisure travellers to and from Mozambique’s economically-important north-eastern region, complementing our current services to Nampula,” said Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht.

The service would be operated with Embraer regional jets and have an initial frequency of twice weekly (on Mondays and Fridays). The flights from Johannesburg to Nacala will be coded 4Z 236 and depart Johannesburg at 10:30 and arrive at Nacala at 13:10. The return flights will be coded 4Z 237 and leave Nacala at 13:45 and arrive back in Johannesburg at 16:35.

Full-fare economy-class passengers will have a 30 kg free baggage allowance, while discounted economy-class passengers will have an allowance of 20 kg. Everyone will have a free sports equipment allowance of 15 kg. On the flight, passengers will receive complimentary refreshments and a light meal. The airline assures that its seating layout provides “generous” leg room. Passengers can choose between window or aisle seats as Airlink aircraft do not have middle seats.

The airline’s current destinations in Mozambique are Beira, Maputo, Nampula, Pemba, Tete and Vilanculos. These cities are serviced by a combined total of 64 return flights a week.

The carrier gives the assurance that all its flights are scheduled in such a way as to ensure convenient connections both with its own network of regional and domestic services, and also with the intercontinental services provided by its long-haul partner airlines. 

Airlink was founded in 1992. It now had a fleet of more than 65 modern jet airliners. In addition to operating flights across South Africa, Southern Africa and into East Africa, it operates services to Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and to St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Further, FlyNamibia is an Airlink franchise.