South Africa’s regional airline Airlink officially launched a direct air service between Johannesburg and Nacala in northern Mozambique on Feb. 2, strengthening air connectivity between the two countries.

The new route is the seventh destination in Mozambique for AirLink. Nacala now joins Beira, Maputo, Nampula, Pemba, Tete and Vilanculos on the airline’s growing Mozambican network.

Airlink operates more than 60 flights a week to destinations across the country.

The route is expected to boost trade, tourism and investment between South Africa and northern Mozambique, as regional demand for improved air links continues to grow.

Initially, the service will operate two return flights per week using Embraer regional jet aircraft.

Airlink said the route has been launched using the airline’s own funds, with plans to increase flight frequency and capacity as passenger and cargo demand develops.

Airlink executive manager for corporate services Namhla Tshetu said the airline’s relationship with Mozambique spans more than three decades, dating back to the launch of flights to Maputo over 30 years ago.

“Nacala is more than a port city but a key regional gateway with growing strategic importance,” Tshetu said. “With this inaugural service, we add the missing piece—air connectivity. Together with road, rail and sea, Nacala becomes a truly multimodal logistics hub.”

Airlink has operated Embraer aircraft since 2001 and continues to expand its fleet. In September 2025, the airline took delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, bringing its total fleet to 65 Embraer jets.