Airlink has launched a new route in Southern Africa, connecting travellers to and from Nacala, Mozambique’s third-largest port city.
According to topauto.co.za, the airline said this route marks a new destination in South Africa’s neighbour, and will provide vital connectivity to a major trade, tourism, and economic hub in the north of Mozambique.
Nacala is the gateway into the Nacala Corridor, a route that provides countries like Malawi and Zambia access to markets along Africa’s eastern seaboard, Asia, and the Middle East.
“By adding Nacala to our network, Airlink adds the vital component of air connectivity, positioning Nacala into a truly multi-modal transport and logistics node for this region,” said the airline’s CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht.
He also explained that Airlink’s flights to this new destination will be a “game-changer” for Nacala and the businesses and enterprises the town supports.
Eduardo Mariamo Abdula, Governor of Nampula Province of Mozambique, said the newly established flight will benefit the entire region.
“Having Airlink connect Nacala with the rest of the world will incentivise travel to and from this important commercial hub and stimulate a surge in trade, tourism and investments that will unlock our region’s full potential.”
“This will improve the socio-economic landscape of northern Mozambique,” he said.
Flights to Nacala will depart from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International on Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 and should land by 13:30, as flight times average between two-and-a-half to three hours.
Return flights are scheduled for the same days for departure at 13:45 before landing in Johannesburg by 16:35.
Airlink’s cheapest return tickets for this route will set travellers back slightly more than R11,000 each.
Adding to its list of destinations
Nacala represents the seventh Mozambican destination for Airlink, and will be serviced by the airline’s Embraer regional jet aircraft.
While no further flights have been confirmed yet, the airline said the route will “initially be served with twice-weekly return flights”, hinting towards future increased flight frequency.
As the seventh of Airlink’s destinations in Mozambique, Nacala deepens the airline’s ties with our neighbours, which it has maintained for over 30 years.
Airlink operates more than 60 return flights a week to Maputo, Beira, Pemba, Nampula, Tete, Vilanculos and now also to Nacala.
The airline says its flights are scheduled to provide travellers with convenient connections with other domestic and regional services, as well as long-haul flights provided by global airlines.
“Airlink is a private-sector airline and is investing its own money into launching and developing this route,” added Engelbrecht.
“While we are starting modestly with two return flights a week, we see enormous potential in the route, and our intention is to add capacity and increase frequency as the demand increases.”
