Delightful Airlink flights Johannesburg-Vilankulos | Trip Report

In this video join Gabe Leigh on a roundtrip from Johannesburg to Vilankulos in Mozambique and back. Outbound is on the ERJ-135 and the return is on the ERJ-170 (including a business class "solo" seat sold as economy). These are quick and simple flights but the service is exceptional considering the flight length and the scenery is even more so. Take a look at a flight to a not-very-often visited corner of Africa (VNX sees just a handful of flights a day) and see what you think about Airlink. To our mind they seem to be one of the best in Africa. And did you know they're also one of the biggest? Despite flying only regional aircraft.
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Flights taken:
June 4, 2023: 4Z260 JNB-VNX E135
June 6, 2023: 4Z261 VNX-JNB E170
Airlink aircraft cut-out from: www.jetphotos....
SECTIONS:
00:18 Good morning Johannesburg
01:16 Boarding flight 1: JNB-VNX ERJ-135
02:45 Takeoff JNB
04:11 Airlink onboard service
05:24 Approach VNX
06:15 Landing VNX
08:09 Back at VNX for the return
10:30 Boarding flight 2: VNX-JNB ERJ-170
11:43 Takeoff VNX
13:56 Descent to JNB + overall thoughts
14:40 Landing JNB
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#airlink #mozambique #africa

[@22ndCenturyBasterd]

Josh Cahill had a bad experience??? Who would have thought of that????!!!!!!

[@petermckinley6753]

Hi Great review. You mentioned Josh Cahil's bad experience. He had a bad experience at check-in in JNB. He was unhappy from there on. The Airlink check-in is staffed by Swissport, and I agree the staff generally are the most unhappy, miserable and unpleasant airport staff I have ever encountered. The plane he was on was in an unclean condition. Airlink have the best on-time departure/arrival record in the region, and perhaps in maintaining that sometimes the Swissport cleaning staff are negligent in turning round a plane. I have used Airlink for many years and they really are excellent. I commute from Cape Town to northern Mozambique 5 times a year. That view of the pristine Mozambican coast coming into land is awesome. Thanks Gabe for your great review.

[@leonelferreira9961]

Hey Peter, just a correction to your comment above, Airlink does not use Swissport at all. They use Menzies as their handler. Their check in staff/ ground staff are Airlink employers, they not outsourced. There was a time after Covid for a bit, they outsourced staff directly from Menzies. In normal circumstances, all the staff are directly employed by Airlink.

[@xolanimashinini9381]

Great video. I exclusively use them for all my domestic flights here in South Africa. I love them

[@071949]

Hi Gabe, I enjoyed flying w/ you; thanks for taking us along! RogerC 11/3/23

I said it before and I say it again, love coming along and have a chance to see all the cool places you visit. Thanks for doing these clips, very much appreciated and always a pleasure to watch!

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Thank you!

[@TMccrury]

I flown with Airlink, when it was part of South African Airways, and always enjoyed my flights with them. I was privileged to fly on one of their Avro jets a few times. That was a great little airplane.

[@DHDAviation]

Love this kind of videos, flying to lesser known places, cool and great mostly untouched nature/scenery, small airports with turnbacks at the end of the runway and no jet bridges, And of course for avgeeks, those sounds of the Embraer E170 on departure! Overall, a great video to start the weekend!

[@tally1604]

Nice to see you back, Gabriel!

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Thanks!

[@Mankind0112]

I enjoyed this episode, especially the landscape from the sky

[@Vxlphy]

lovely flight😍

[@jamessmitka8066]

When it comes to airlines one never knows who you will contact on the phone or where they will be from. I, ironically, was just talking on two separate times to Jo’burgh South Africa but for United flights to Hawaii no less! I live in NY state. BTW, those Airlink flights were very nice indeed. Dankie, Jim

[@richardkoker8749]

That airplane is an Embraer 190-200LR. It was previously EW-533PO operated Belavia (Belarus airlines). It is now ZS-YDB featuring that hybrid scheme - Belavia livery with titles of Airlink, along with painted Airlink winglets.

[@jacquesleroux5069]

Come back soon 😊

[@sihlemonama2333]

Great airline over all. Flew it to PMB recently. Plus, you a Krispy Kream donut on some flights :)

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Now that is nice!

[@alberti123]

Wow! I assume the blue paint scheme of the Erj-170 at Johannesburg is because the aircraft is leased from Belavia?

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Correct! Via an intermediary company, but yes.

[@naqeebmunshi1398]

The e195 has the belavia livery.

[@theEagleBeagle]

I hope you can get to St. Helena or even Ascension Island one day!

[@ScottishT]

Really great video and Airlink seemed really good.

[@sergioagostinho72]

My Taag in the end.

[@laksi0505]

AirLink is very smart, by using only Embrear devices, with one and the same copit, they save a lot of money. Embraer supplies aircraft with 30 seats (EMB120) up to the EMB 195E with 132 seats. The right aircraft for every route.

[@AeroTravels]

Great report, great work. Thank you!

[@wilcovaneeden8469]

The aircraft with the difference in color is advertising Airlinks new frequent traveler program.

[@JelmersAviation]

Amazing video mate!

[@paulmorrisashton7835]

Great video, my daughter who works for Airlink does this trip often,you should try the St Helena flight,the landings there can be hectic and its possible for mid atlantic turnarounds if the weather is bad,saying all that its on alot of people's bucket list

[@user-uw7yb6xf7d]

Your Videos are the best..Josh is Not to compare with Gabriel 🎉

[@user-cx6qf5hp9g]

Great airline I flown to Kansane often all ways good!!

[@flyingdentist]

nice

[@sergioagostinho72]

What made you then go to Vilankulo if you had never heard about? It is a nice and touristic place.

[@axelbr403]

St. Helena, please! 😊

[@eprohoda]

How’s life?. wow. very professional .

[@mazinman3]

Are most of the Air Link pilots South African & where do they typically train to get their ATP?

[@cheesemaxer]

ERJ small

[@wzukr]

"Vilankulo"

[@richardkoker8749]

That's a South African airline for you! (but please not SAA, please no!)