Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has announced it is to acquire fellow South African operator, Safair Operations (Pty) Ltd., for an undisclosed sum.

In a statement, Airlink said Safair's shareholder, Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings, will become a minority shareholder in Airlink Group whose other shareholders had, until now, included Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust (32.51%), South African Airways (2.96%), Coronation Capital, SA Airlink Investments (Rodger Foster), and Barrie Webb.

Despite the takeover, ACMI/charter unit Safair and budget carrier brand, FlySafair, will continue to operate separately under their unique brands while Airlink’s existing South African Airways franchise partnership will also continue as before. The airlines will also retain their respective products, aircraft fleets, management and leadership teams. No job losses because of the consolidation are expected.

“Airlink’s acquisition of Safair, which is financially robust and profitable, makes good business sense. It presents opportunities to reduce our combined costs, position ourselves for growth while at the same time increasing connectivity and choice while making air travel accessible and affordable for our customers across Southern Africa,” Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster, said. “Our combined networks will enable us to connect 37 destinations in nine Southern African and Indian Ocean countries and St. Helena. This will stimulate and enable trade, tourism, economic growth and social development in those markets we serve."

The acquisition will close following approval from South Africa’s Competition Commission, which is expected to rule during the first quarter of next year.

Airlink currently operates a fleet of twelve ARJ-85s, eight Jetstream 41s, three E170s, seven E190s, seventeen E135s, eleven E140s, three E145s, and four Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208EXs on flights across South Africa as well as to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho, St. Helena & Ascension Island, Madagascar, Swaziland, and Botswana. Additional destinations in Central and West Africa are expected to follow in the coming months.

For its part, Safair specializes in ACMI/charter operations employing a fleet of six Lockheed Hercules (for freight and relief flights), as well as nine B737-400s and three B737-800s (in service for FlySafair on scheduled flights across South Africa), and one B737-400(M).