Eswatini Airlink (Manzini Matsapha) - a joint venture between the Kingdom of Eswatini and Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) - will cease operating on June 1, 2022, after the parties mutually agreed to dissolve the 23-year-old joint venture airline.

In a statement, the shareholders announced the April 14 decision was made jointly and amicably following the government’s recent re-establishment of a wholly-Eswatini owned national airline, - Eswatini Air, the new regional airline brand of state-owned Royal Eswatini National Airways (RENAC).

From June 1, 2022, Airlink and the new Eswatini Air will compete in providing scheduled air services between Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, South Africa and Manzini King Mswati III International.

As reported, the new state carrier plans to debut on Southern African regional routes using two EMB-145EPs.

“For the past 23 years, Eswatini Airlink has provided the Kingdom of Eswatini with vital air services and helped to connect our economy with those throughout Southern Africa and beyond. However, we have decided to take advantage of the opportunity that the post-COVID restart and recovery presents, to launch a new, wholly-Eswatini owned carrier and usher in a new era of competition,” said Eswatini’s Minister for Public Works and Transport, Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe.

Eswatini Airlink currently operates multiple daily services between Johannesburg O.R. Tambo and Sikhuphe’s King Mswati III International Airport. The airline currently has a 100% market share at Manzini Matsapha in terms of weekly seat capacity, ch-aviation capacities data shows.

Eswatini Airlink (formerly Swaziland Airlink) was established in 1999 to provide air services for the Kingdom after Royal Swazi National Airways stopped operating. This was facilitated through the 60/40 joint venture company with Airlink (South Africa), which operates the flights on Eswatini Airlink's behalf.

Airlink Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rodger Foster said the company had enjoyed “a long and mutually successful partnership” through the jointly owned Eswatini Airlink. He confirmed the discontinuation of the venture had been agreed “jointly and amicably”.

“Airlink will seamlessly continue providing the service, and most importantly, we are offering to re-employ every Eswatini Airlink staff member with Airlink, thereby securing their jobs,” he added.