Airlink's first E195-E2 to be delivered by year's end

South African airline Airlink is expected to receive the first of 10 E195-E2 jets by the end of the year, Embraer announced.

The aircraft will be leased from Azorra. The two companies have just signed an agreement to this effect, the Brazilian manufacturer announced.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, Airlink operates an exclusive fleet of Embraer aircraft, ranging from the ERJ to the first-generation E-Jet family, totaling 64 aircraft.

According to Embraer, deliveries of the 10 E195-E2s will continue until 2027.

Airlink will adopt a single-class configuration with 136 seats, which should increase available capacity, as the E195 currently in service has 107 seats (two classes).

“It is an exciting and daunting moment for Airlink. Exciting because it heralds the next phase of Airlink’s development and growth as the leading regional airline in Southern Africa and now possibly beyond. Daunting, as there is a lot to do in the weeks ahead before the first aircraft enters service, hopefully in December this year, but I have no doubt that the Airlink team will deliver, as they always do,” acknowledged Villiers Engelbrecht, CEO of Airlink.

Founded in 1992 as South African Airlink, the regional airline has experienced significant expansion in recent years amid the problems faced by state-owned South African Airways (SAA).

In August 2024, Qatar Airways acquired a 25% stake in Airlink, the maximum permitted under South African law.

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