Eswatini Airlink will cease operations on 1 June 2022. Jointly owned by the government of Eswatini and privately-owned Airlink, the airline currently flies daily between Sikhuphe’s King Mswati III International Airport and Johannesburg.
Airlink CEO Rodger Foster discussed the mutual decision to discontinue the airline: ‘However, as the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini recently re-established a national airline, we have jointly and amicably agreed to discontinue Eswatini Airlink’s operations in an orderly manner to avoid any disruption and inconvenience to our customers.’
Eswatini Air, the new national airline owned entirely by Eswatini, will provide scheduled flights between King Mswati III International Airport and Johannesburg.
Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, Eswatini’s Minister for Public Works and Transport, commented: ‘For the past 23 years, Eswatini Airlink has provided the Kingdom of Eswatini with vital air services and helped to connect our economy with those throughout Southern Africa and beyond.
‘However, we have decided to take advantage of the opportunity that the post-COVID restart and recovery presents, to launch a new, wholly-Eswatini owned carrier and usher in a new era of competition.’
According to TravelNews, Airlink will facilitate a seamless transitionary period by offering to re-employ all Eswatini Airlink employees at Airlink.
Picture: Pexels
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