Airline profile and operating position
Airlink (Airlink (Pty) Ltd.) is a South African regional airline founded in 1992 and headquartered in Greenstone Hill in east Johannesburg. Its hub is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), with Cape Town (CPT), Durban (DUR) and Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP) as focus airports. Airlink Cargo is the freight division, dedicated to air cargo within southern Africa.
Airlink's IATA two-letter code is 4Z, its ICAO three-letter code is LNK, its radio call sign is LINK and its air cargo waybill prefix is 749. The airline is an IATA member, has passed the IOSA operational safety audit, and holds interline and codeshare agreements with global carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and United Airlines. The official website is flyairlink.com.
The Airlink fleet is made up entirely of Embraer E-Jet series aircraft, around fifty in service, including the E190, E195, E170, E175, E140 and E135, with the new E195-E2 already being delivered. The network covers thirty-nine destinations and more than fifty-five routes in southern Africa, the widest regional coverage in that market.
For Chinese shippers the value of Airlink sits in the regional leg beyond the Johannesburg gateway. Cargo arrives at JNB on a mainline flight from Addis Ababa, Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, then continues in an Airlink E-Jet belly hold to second-tier cities in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. Most of those cities have no direct flight to China, so Airlink is the leg that gets Chinese cargo into the local market.
Aircraft and loading characteristics
The Airlink fleet is made up entirely of Embraer E-Jet regional jets, and freight capacity comes from the belly hold and lower deck of each type. The E-Jet cabin is quiet and efficient in cruise, and the hold suits loose and small-unit consignments moving from China via JNB to second-tier southern African cities.
| Aircraft type | Seat band | Freight characteristics | Suitable China cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer E190 | 98 seats (6 business + 92 economy) | Most numerous in the fleet and the mainstay of loose cargo | Chinese industrial goods, auto parts and e-commerce cargo |
| Embraer E195 / E195-E2 | 100 seats and above | Higher seating capacity and correspondingly more belly space | Larger lots of Chinese trade cargo |
| Embraer E170 / E175 | About 70 to 80 seats | Belly cargo on short regional sectors | Small pieces, urgent shipments and samples |
| Embraer E140 / E135 | About 37 to 44 seats | Narrowbody regional type for light loose cargo | Documents, urgent spares and small parcels |
The E-Jet family is narrowbody regional equipment with loose-load holds and cannot take LD3 containers. Standard ULD consignments from China must be broken down at JNB and reloaded loose before Airlink carries them to second-tier southern African cities. Goodhope Freight's ground agent in Johannesburg arranges that break-down and transfer, so the Chinese shipper does not handle it.
Contact details and how business is handled
Airlink has no publicly listed own office or cargo sales point in China. Cargo sales are handled by the Airlink Cargo department at the Johannesburg head office, at enquiries@airlinkcargo.co.za.
Airline contact details
| Full airline name | Airlink (Pty) Ltd. (Airlink Cargo) |
|---|---|
| Head office address | Greenstone Hill Office Park, Modderfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Official website | flyairlink.com |
| IATA code | 4Z |
| AWB prefix | 749 |
| Directly owned cargo office in China | The airline has no publicly listed own office in China; business is handled through its local agent or through Goodhope Freight |
Chinese shippers who need Airlink regional space in southern Africa should route the request through Goodhope Freight. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) can check space and schedules from the JNB gateway to Windhoek, Gaborone, Victoria Falls, Livingstone and other points, and combine the China to JNB mainline sector with the Airlink onward sector under one arrangement. Contact details are on the official website goodhope86.com.
China gateways and route structure
Airlink is a regional airline and its whole network is within southern Africa. There are no published direct flights to China and no station at any Chinese airport. Chinese exports must reach the JNB gateway first, then enter the Airlink regional network.
Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Capital, Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an all have connecting services toward JNB, so shippers can choose the nearest departure gateway. Airlink runs a dedicated regional cargo counter at the JNB cargo terminal, and depalletising, clearance and re-palletising for onward carriage can be completed the same day.
Destinations reachable from China
After arrival at JNB, Airlink Cargo connects to the following southern African points. Most have no direct flight to China, which makes Airlink the practical route into those markets.
Domestic destinations in South Africa
- Cape Town (CPT)
- Durban (DUR)
- Port Elizabeth (PLZ)
- East London (ELS)
- Bloemfontein (BFN)
- George (GRJ)
- Upington (UPN)
Neighbouring southern African countries
- Windhoek (WDH), Namibia
- Gaborone (GBE), Botswana
- Victoria Falls (VFA) — Zimbabwe
- Bulawayo (BUQ) — Zimbabwe
- Lusaka (LUN) — Zambia
- Ndola (NLA) — Zambia
- Maputo (MPM), Mozambique
Other regional points
- Maseru (MSU) — Lesotho
- Manzini (MTS) — Eswatini
- Livingstone (LVI) — Zambia
- Walvis Bay (WVB) — Namibia
- Tete (TDZ) — Mozambique
- Johannesburg (JNB) — hub
Among these points, Windhoek, Gaborone, Victoria Falls, Lusaka and Maputo are frequent destinations for Chinese project materials and electromechanical parts. Actual services change with the season; confirm with the carrier on the day of booking.
Freight advantages from China toward the southern African interior
For cargo shipped from China into the southern African interior through the JNB gateway, Airlink Cargo offers the following.
Densest network in southern Africa
Airlink operates thirty-nine destinations and more than fifty-five routes in southern Africa, so Chinese cargo arriving in Johannesburg can connect to a regional sector the same day and reach Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, markets where Chinese carriers have very little presence.
IOSA safety certification
Airlink is an IATA member that has passed the IOSA operational safety audit. Cargo carried on the southern African regional leg has a stable safety record, and project materials and high-value goods get standardised handling.
Interline connections
Airlink holds interline agreements with Emirates, Qatar Airways, United and others, so Chinese cargo arriving in Johannesburg on a Middle East or European mainline flight can connect to an Airlink regional sector under the same waybill structure, which avoids separate bookings with fragmented information.
Narrowbody regional flexibility
E-Jet narrowbody aircraft have lower airport requirements than widebodies and can land at small airports such as Victoria Falls, Walvis Bay and Maseru, so Chinese cargo avoids a second truck transfer at a neighbouring hub and last-mile transit time is shorter.
Specialist services
Airlink Cargo provides the following regional freight services for Chinese exports entering through the Johannesburg gateway.
Southern Africa belly connections
Electromechanical parts, small construction machinery, textiles and e-commerce parcels from China arrive at JNB and continue in Airlink E-Jet belly holds to more than thirty southern African airports. The service suits distribution of Chinese project materials to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and other project countries.
Small urgent shipments and samples
E135 and E140 regional flights are frequent and suit urgent spares, samples and documents. A shipper needing an emergency part at a southern African construction site can connect to the next regional departure at JNB the same day.
Interline transit handling
Through the interline relationship with Emirates and Qatar Airways, when Chinese cargo lands at JNB from a Middle East mainline flight the Airlink ground team can complete the waybill change and the re-palletising within the minimum connection time, cutting dwell time at Johannesburg.
All of the above applies to cargo exported from China and entering the southern African interior through the Johannesburg gateway. Goodhope Freight can quote the mainline and onward sectors side by side against the cargo parameters.
Route layout: China to the southern African interior
The diagram shows Chinese export cargo arriving in Johannesburg on a mainline carrier and being distributed by Airlink to southern African points.
Booking and shipping process
Airlink has no sales organisation in China, so booking the two sectors through a specialist freight forwarder is the most efficient route. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight) works as follows.
Recommended booking options
China gateway to Johannesburg JNB mainline, plus Airlink onward carriage to more than thirty southern African airports.
Confirm cargo parameters, the final southern African destination such as Windhoek, Gaborone or Lusaka, and the transit time required.
Goodhope Freight matches the China to JNB mainline and secures the Airlink onward flight, then quotes the through rate and connection times.
Cargo is consolidated in China and handed over at the gateway, tracked through the JNB transit and onward to delivery at the southern African destination.
Cargo mix and handling notes for the southern African interior
Most inland countries and provinces of southern Africa are not served directly from Chinese ports, so Chinese exports must be transhipped at the Johannesburg gateway onto Airlink E-Jet regional flights. That pattern shapes the cargo Airlink Cargo handles from China: goods suited to loose loading in the hold and sensitive to transit time.
Mining and project spares
Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique form the mining belt of southern Africa, where Chinese companies run copper, diamond and uranium operations and infrastructure projects. Equipment spares, excavator parts, cable and pipe must reach sites by air on a regular basis. Airlink's E190 and E195 belly holds take this loose cargo and land at airports close to the mining areas, such as Windhoek, Lusaka and Victoria Falls.
Auto parts and industrial consumables
Vehicle repair and industrial consumables in the southern African interior depend on supply out of Johannesburg. Chinese brake pads, filters, bearings and driveline parts transhipped at Johannesburg onto Airlink flights reach Gaborone, Maseru and Maputo within a day. Such cargo is neatly packed and light, which suits loose loading in the E135 and E140 hold.
Textiles, apparel and consumer goods
Chinese textiles, footwear, small appliances and household goods hold a significant share of retail in the southern African interior. Values are low and lots are large, so cargo is usually consolidated into JNB and then distributed by Airlink to second-tier cities, which suits a steady weekly shipping rhythm.
Urgent shipments and emergency spares
When equipment fails on a southern African project site, the air transit time on the emergency spare directly determines the cost of downtime. Airlink has frequent flights from Johannesburg to Windhoek, Lusaka and Maputo, so a Chinese spare can connect to the next regional departure at JNB the same day and shorten the wait.
Connecting at the Johannesburg JNB hub
Airlink's southern African network covers thirty-nine destinations, and the connection pattern and handling points differ by country direction.
Namibia
Windhoek (WDH) and Walvis Bay (WVB) are the main Airlink points in Namibia. Mining equipment spares and consumer goods from China connect at JNB the same day and reach Windhoek in half a day. Walvis Bay is Namibia's main port city, and cargo can link there to port and fishing projects.
Botswana
Gaborone (GBE) is the capital of Botswana and the centre of the diamond and beef industries. Small machinery, auto parts and consumer goods from China move on from JNB to Gaborone for the mining and retail markets. Airlink flies Johannesburg to Gaborone frequently, which suits steady replenishment.
Zimbabwe and Zambia
Victoria Falls (VFA), Bulawayo (BUQ), Livingstone (LVI), Lusaka (LUN) and Ndola (NLA) are the main points in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Chinese project materials for the Zambian copper belt are largely distributed on this axis. Cargo transhipped at JNB onto an E190 or E195 regional flight reaches Lusaka the same day.
Mozambique and Lesotho
Maputo (MPM) is the capital and port city of Mozambique, Maseru (MSU) is the capital of Lesotho and Manzini (MTS) is a major city in Eswatini. Chinese building materials, agricultural machinery parts and consumer goods move on from JNB to these cities for the import markets of the landlocked southern African states.
Choosing between routing options and cost
Chinese companies running mining, infrastructure and power projects in southern Africa usually need a continuous flow of spares and consumables by air over the project cycle. Airlink's regional network handles the last distribution leg in that flow, and the way it operates ties directly to how a Chinese shipper manages a project timetable.
Choosing the airport nearest the site
Mines and construction sites in southern Africa are often close to small airports. Airlink's narrowbody E-Jet regional aircraft can land at Victoria Falls, Walvis Bay and Livingstone, so Chinese project materials avoid a long truck leg from Johannesburg. A project logistics manager can pick the nearest Airlink point as the air destination.
A steady weekly replenishment rhythm
Spare consumption on a project is predictable, so a shipper can consolidate spares to Johannesburg weekly and Airlink can carry them to site on the same week's flights. Consolidating this way lowers the unit transport cost while keeping site inventory low.
An emergency channel for critical spares
When key equipment fails on site, the air transit time on the spare decides the downtime cost. Airlink has frequent flights from Johannesburg to the main regional points, so a Chinese spare can connect to the next departure at JNB the same day and reach Windhoek or Lusaka in as little as half a day.
Documents and customs coordination
Customs rules differ widely across southern Africa, and shippers must prepare invoices, packing lists and certificates of origin to the destination country's requirements before dispatch. Goodhope Freight can handle clearance documents for the Johannesburg transit and declarations for the onward sector on behalf of Chinese project exporters, so documents do not hold up the cargo.
Combining the Johannesburg gateway with the Airlink regional network gives Chinese project materials a steady air channel from a Chinese gateway to site in southern Africa. Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited can provide long-term framework bookings to match a project cycle.
Market outlook
Airlink is the regional airline with the widest southern African coverage, its E-Jet fleet is still growing and it has begun taking the new E195-E2. As Chinese exports to the landlocked states of southern Africa grow, the volume distributed through the Johannesburg gateway rises steadily. Airlink's interline agreements with mainline carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and United give Chinese cargo a standardised connection into the regional network after transit through the Middle East or Europe.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited tracks Airlink's network and fleet changes and keeps Chinese project exporters and trading companies up to date on distribution from Johannesburg into the southern African interior. For current space and schedules, contact Goodhope Freight through goodhope86.com. Whatever the final destination, Windhoek, Gaborone, Lusaka or Maputo, Goodhope Freight completes the transhipment and onward arrangement at the Johannesburg gateway, and the shipper only has to deliver at the Chinese gateway.
Frequently asked questions
Does Airlink fly direct to China?
No. Airlink is a southern African regional airline and its whole network is on the African continent. Chinese cargo must reach Johannesburg JNB first, then continue with Airlink to southern African points.
Which cities can Airlink serve after Chinese cargo reaches Johannesburg?
South African cities plus Windhoek, Gaborone, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Lusaka, Ndola, Maputo, Maseru and Walvis Bay, more than thirty airports in all. Confirm the schedule on the day of booking.
What is Airlink's waybill prefix?
The Airlink air cargo waybill prefix is 749. When Airlink operates the onward sector, the waybill should start with 749; the prefix on the China to JNB mainline sector depends on the operating carrier.
Which Chinese exports suit Airlink onward carriage?
Common categories are electromechanical parts, small construction machinery, textiles and apparel, consumer goods and e-commerce parcels. The E-Jet has a loose-load hold, so ULD consignments from China must be broken down at JNB before the onward sector.
Does Airlink have an office in China?
The airline has no publicly listed own office in China; business is handled through its local agent or through Goodhope Freight, which can arrange the China to JNB mainline and the Airlink onward sector together.
How long does China to a second-tier southern African city take?
The China to JNB mainline usually takes two to four days, and connections from JNB to Windhoek, Gaborone and Victoria Falls are usually same day. The through transit time depends on the plan confirmed on the day of booking.
Which aircraft does Airlink fly on southern African regional routes?
All Embraer E-Jet series: E190, E195, E170, E175, E140 and E135, with the E195-E2 now in service. The narrowbody regional aircraft can land at small southern African airports.
Which Chinese gateways ship to South Africa?
Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Capital, Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an all have connecting services toward JNB, and Goodhope Freight can recommend the best gateway and transit hub for the cargo.
What is required to break down Chinese cargo at Johannesburg JNB before onward carriage?
The Airlink onward sector uses the E-Jet loose-load hold, so ULD consignments from China must be broken down at Johannesburg JNB and reloaded loose before continuing to Windhoek, Gaborone, Victoria Falls and other southern African points. Goodhope Freight arranges the break-down, reloading and space connection at JNB; the shipper palletises to the packing instructions we provide, and ULD return and related charges are confirmed at booking.
Disclaimer
Information is compiled from public sources and is for business communication only; it does not form a contract of carriage or a price commitment. Schedules, aircraft types and capacity are subject to confirmation on the day of booking.
Contact details
For air freight and ground handling enquiries on this trade, contact Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited at goodhope86.com.
Official website:goodhope86.com
Trademark notice
Airline names, two-letter and three-letter codes and trademarks appearing here are the property of their respective owners and are cited for identification only.