Airlink has operated commenced flights on its first route to Zanzibar.
First Airlink flight on Zanzibar route
The airline touched down in Zanzibar on 3 June, inaugurating its new year-round, twice-a-week, return service from Johannesburg.
Zanzibar is also the first international destination for Airlink’s brand new, state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2 flagship passenger jets.
These modern, fuel-efficient aircraft accommodate up to 136 passengers in comfortable seats with generous leg-room and a choice of either aisle or window seats – Airlink aircraft do not have middle seats.
Onboard, customers receive complimentary meals and refreshments.
Flight Schedule
From 3 June, Airlink flights between Johannesburg (JNB) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) will operate twice-weekly at the following times:
| Flight No | Weekday | Aircraft | Dep | Time | Arr | Time |
| 4Z 010 | Wed, Sun | E195-E2 | JNB | 12.00 | ZNZ | 16.35 |
| 4Z 011 | Mon, Thu | E195-E2 | ZNZ | 12.00 | JNB | 14.55 |
Between 15 December 2026 and 13 January 2027, additional weekly flights will operate at these times:
| Flight No | Weekday | Aircraft | Dep | Time | Arr | Time |
| 4Z 010 | Tue | E190 | JNB | 12.00 | ZNZ | 16.35 |
| 4Z 011 | Wed | E190 | ZNZ | 12.00 | JNB | 14.55 |
An Island Getaway
The legendary Tanzanian island in the Indian Ocean is famous for its history, culture, spices, beaches, forest and marine life and resorts. These have made Zanzibar an increasingly popular destination for tourists from around the world, including South Africa.
So much so that Airlink will add a third weekly return flight on the route from 15 December 2026 to 13 January 2027 for the peak summer holiday season.
These are in addition to an entirely new non-stop service between Cape Town and Zanzibar, launching on 03 October 2026.
“Besides becoming a tourist bucket-list destination, Zanzibar’s flourishing economy, which includes its traditional spice trade but also manufacturing, fishing, marine tourism and offshore oil and gas exploration, is an increasingly powerful magnet for investment and trade, which Airlink is well-placed to support,” said de Villiers Engelbrecht, Airlink CEO.
Zanzibar’s proximity to Johannesburg, Airlink’s main hub, puts the island within reach of customers based in the greater Johannesburg area.
The convenient timing of the flights allows for easy connections with Airlink’s network of 48 destinations in 15 countries across South Africa and the SADC region. They also provide easy connections for customers travelling between Zanzibar and the rest of the world through Airlink’s inter-continental partner airline network.
