Airlink

Airlink runs the broadest regional network of any airline based in South Africa, with scheduled services into more than forty destinations across thirteen African countries. Its sweet spot is the secondary cities and business markets the bigger carriers do not prioritise: Hoedspruit, Skukuza, Polokwane, Sishen, Pemba, Beira, Vilanculos, Walvis Bay, Maun, Kasane, Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Lubumbashi, Mbombela. The fleet is a mix of Embraer regional jets — well-suited to the shorter, thinner regional lanes that would not fill a 737. Airlink has codeshare and interline agreements with Qatar Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, United and others, which lets travellers book one ticket from Doha or Dubai or Frankfurt all the way to a Mozambican beach resort or a Kruger gateway airstrip.

Practical notes: baggage allowance is generous for a regional carrier — checked baggage is included on most fare brands and the carry-on allowance accommodates a normal cabin bag without the FlySafair-style upsell. Online check-in opens twenty-four hours before departure. Where Airlink shines is reliability on routes with limited alternatives: if you are going to Hoedspruit for the Kruger or to Skukuza inside the park, Airlink is often the only daily option, and the operational record on these lanes is strong. Fares are not aimed at the budget end — expect to pay R500-R1,500 more than FlySafair on a domestic trunk route, and substantially more on the regional services where Airlink has limited or no competition.