Cape Town – Airlink, South Africa’s largest independent airline, will resume flights to Nampula, Mozambique, on Thursday after receiving assurances that its aircraft would not be seized by Mozambican authorities.
The decision follows guidance and assurances from South African and Mozambican authorities, confirming that Airlink’s aircraft will not be unlawfully impounded upon arrival at the northern Mozambique airport.
The suspension of flights earlier this week followed an interim court order from the Nampula Provincial Court, which sought to seize Airlink aircraft after a legal claim filed by two passengers who were offloaded from an Airlink flight in Johannesburg for alleged unruly behaviour.
“While an attempt to seize our aircraft remains a possibility as long as the Nampula Provincial Court order has not been withdrawn, we have been assured that local officials will not attempt to execute it.
Customer Update | 08 January 2025 – Airlink will resume scheduled flights to and from Nampula in Mozambique from tomorrow, Thursday 09 January 2025. The decision to resume operations to Nampula follows guidance and reassurances from South African and Mozambican official… pic.twitter.com/F8zw2UBAT6
— Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) January 8, 2025
We maintain the court order, along with the claim against Airlink by two passengers who were recently offloaded from one of our flights after their unruly and threatening behaviour, are flawed and without merit,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.
He also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations earlier this week, thanking affected passengers for their understanding and offering an apology on behalf of the airline.
“On behalf of Airlink, I wish to apologise to our customers who were inconvenienced by yesterday’s cancelled flights and thank them for their understanding. Similarly, we are grateful for the interventions and guidance by the Department of International Relations & Cooperation, the Department of Transport, the SA Civil Aviation Authority and their counterparts at the Mozambique Ministry of Transport and the Instituto de Aviação Civil de Moçambique,” said Foster.
Airlink, which provides approximately 70 percent of the scheduled air travel between South Africa and Mozambique, operates flights to Nampula, Maputo, Beira, Tete, Vilanculos, and Pemba under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the two countries.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
