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Standing the test of time                                                                                                                        2016







                                      1992   African Sky’, and displaying the distinctive South   2012
                                             African national colours of blue, red, green and   In June, SA Airlink sells a 32.51% stake of the
                                             gold, along with the brightly coloured sunbird   company in a landmark broad-based black
                                             emblem. Airlink’s badging, while distinctly different   economic empowerment transaction. In December,
                                             from the franchise brand, demonstrates clear   ACSA presents six Feather Awards to SA Airlink
                                             alignment with SAA’s 'South African' brand.  in recognition of consistent service excellence at
                                                                               ACSA airports.
                                              2006
                                                                               2013
           1992                                                                In March, SA Airlink commences direct services    2017                                                                                            2019
           Business partners Rodger Foster and Barrie Webb                     between Johannesburg and Kasane and between       SA Airlink celebrates its 25th anniversary under
           successfully bid for liquidated Link Airways. The                   Johannesburg and Vilanculos, bringing the total   the same leadership, and the 50th anniversary of   2018               In December, the Airports Company SA (ACSA)
           new airline is named Airlink.                                       number of destinations in the SA Airlink          one of its root airlines, Lowveld Air Services, which   SA Airlink and FlySafair conclude negotiations for   presents a Feather Award to SA Airlink in
                                                                               network to 31.                                    started in 1967. In June, SA Airlink is chosen   a merger/acquisition by SA Airlink of FlySafair.   recognition of Best Performing Regional Airline.
           1995                                                                 On 11 June, Airlink celebrates 21 years in the   by the St Helena Government as its preferred   The application for authorisation to proceed is
           “SA Airlink” is officially launched on 25 March at                  aviation industry. At this point, SA Airlink has a   bidder to provide a scheduled airline service to   turned down by the Competitions Commission on   2019
           a gathering of important guests, including Queen                    turnover of more than two billion rand, employs   the island. In August, the first of the airline’s new   the grounds that the Competitions Commission   SA Airlink establishes its high-tech training centre of
           Elizabeth II.                                                       about 1,000 staff, and carries one million-plus   Embraer E-190 E-Jets begin operating on routes   believes that SA Airlink and FlySafair are   excellence in conjunction with Embraer, housing both
            SA Airlink brand aligns with that of SAA and   2008                customers annually.                               to Pietermaritzburg and Bulawayo. In December,   competitors. The matter is referred to the Tribunal,   an Embraer E190 and an Embraer ERJ145 simulator.
           SA Airlink joins the Voyager frequent flyer loyalty   SA Airlink, having successfully completed the IATA              ACSA presents Feather Awards to SA Airlink in   but before arguments are presented the application   These simulators operate up to five training slots per
           programme.                        Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), is placed on the   2015                            recognition of Best Performing Regional Airline and   is withdrawn, as the objectives of the shareholders   day and greatly assist in the cognitive, associative
                                             IATA Register on 6 February, assuring customers of   SA Airlink becomes the first domestic airline to   Best Performing Domestic Airline.  of SA Airlink and FlySafair had diverged.  and autonomous stages of pilot training.
           1997                              the highest possible standard of service.  offer scheduled flights between Cape Town and
           SA Airlink joins SAA and SA Express in a strategic                  the then recently refurbished Wonderboom Airport
           alliance that leads to the establishment of the   2009              in Pretoria.                                                                                                 2020
           leading aviation network in Africa.  In October, SA Airlink moves into its new                                                                                                   SA Airlink resumes operations during COVID-19 lockdown
            SA Airlink and SA Express adopt the 'South   head office in Greenstone Hill Office Park,   2016                                                                                 level 3, operating on its own 4Z flight code, and terminates its
           African' franchise brand.         Modderfontein.                    SA Airlink signs an agreement with the government                                                            23-year franchise agreement with South African Airways (SAA)
                                                                                                                                                                                            after SAA enters business rescue, defaults on its agreements
                                                                               of Madagascar to operate domestic air services
           1999                              2011                              within Madagascar, and regional air services                                                                 with SA Airlink, and stops operating.
                                                                                                                                                                                             SA Airlink re-defines its business model as an independent
           Swaziland Airlink is formed as a joint venture   In December, the Airports Company SA (ACSA)   between Madagascar and key states within Africa
                                                                                                                                                                                            comprehensive airline network incorporating all keys destinations
           company between Airlink and the Swaziland (now   presents four Feather Awards to SA Airlink in   and the Indian Ocean Islands.                                                   within South Africa and Southern Africa.
           Eswatini) government.             recognition of consistent service excellence at   SA Airlink, in partnership with Embraer, opens
                                                                                                                                                                                             SA Airlink establishes itself as the most comprehensive airline
                                             ACSA airports.                    the Airlink Training Centre in Bonaero Park.                                                                 network system in Southern Africa, offering more connections to
           2000                                                                                                                                                                             key cities within Africa and the world by way of interconnectivity
           On 3 April, SA Airlink officially opens the   2014                  Skukuza Airport, allowing direct access to globally                                                          within its own network and with the networks of its partner
           Kruger Park Gateway Airport in Phalaborwa.  SA Airlink launches the return of scheduled air   renowned wildlife destinations in the Kruger Park                                  airlines. SA Airlink introduces flights to new destinations,
            On 30 August, the franchise agreement   services between Cape Town and Johannesburg to   and nearby Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.                                            including Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, East London, George,
           between SAA and SA Airlink is signed                                                                                                                                             Dar es Salaam, Windhoek, Lubumbashi, Luanda and Maputo.
           as a bilateral relationship.                                                                                                                                                      Qatar Airways and Emirates sign interline agreements with
                                                                                                                                                                                            Airlink that will provide passengers with seamless connectivity
           2005                                                                                                                                                                             via Cape Town and Johannesburg to more than 45 destinations
           SA Airlink commences air services to                                                                                                                                             within Southern Africa.
           Antananarivo in Madagascar.                                                                                                                                                       In September, SA Airlink (Pty) Ltd changes its corporate name
                                                                                                                                                                                            to Airlink (Pty) Ltd to align the company with its trade name and
           2006                                                                                                                                                                             brand 'Airlink', that had been in use since 2005.
           SA Airlink changes its corporate identity, adopting                                                                                                                               On 12 November, Airlink unveils its new livery and its new tail
           the brand 'Airlink', emphasising the airline’s                                                                                                                                   insignia, clearly proclaiming its status as an independent airline.
           corporate positioning statement, ‘Freedom of the


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