South Africa’s Airlink will introduce flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar next year.
The airline will offer two rotations a week between Johannesburg and the Tanzanian island, starting June 3, 2026.
Airlink already operates flights between Johannesburg and Tanzania’s commercial hub, Dar es Salaam.
E195 Route
The Johannesburg-based airline will operate the route with its new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which accommodate up to 136 passengers on this service.
“Zanzibar’s proximity to Johannesburg, Airlink’s main hub, puts the island within reach of customers,” Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht said in a statement. “The timing of the flights allows for Airlink connecting flights from other destinations we serve across South Africa and the SADC region. Similarly, Airlink will provide convenient connections for customers traveling between Zanzibar and almost anywhere in the world on our world-leading partner airlines.”
With its growing economy, Zanzibar is emerging as a hotspot for investors and business travelers.
The island is known for its beaches, forests, marine life, and resorts. It is home to the UNESCO-listed historical Stone Town, whose maze of streets featuring mosques, churches, bazaars, villas, and a palace – as well as a museum marking the birthplace and boyhood home of the late rock star Freddie Mercury – reflect its fusion of African, Asian, and European influences.
