Airlink will begin flying between Cape Town International and Lanseria International Airport from 4 December 2026, with twice-daily services in each direction. From March 2027 the schedule increases to four daily flights - two in each direction - as the carrier builds frequency on the route.
The announcement, made on 6 October, marks Airlink’s first ever scheduled domestic service at Lanseria. Until now the airline’s Johannesburg-area operations have run entirely through OR Tambo International, so this represents a notable shift in its network strategy.
What changes for travellers
Lanseria sits roughly 35 kilometres north-west of central Johannesburg, closer to Sandton, Midrand and the northern suburbs than OR Tambo is. For travellers based in that corridor - including many business visitors and conference delegates - Lanseria can cut road transfer time by an hour or more in peak traffic, and parking costs considerably less than at OR Tambo.
The Cape Town route links the airport to the Western Cape for the first time under a domestic carrier rather than a charter operation. Airlink uses Embraer 135, 145 and 170 jets on its regional network, with the specific aircraft type yet to be confirmed for this route.
What the schedule looks like
From 4 December 2026:
- Two daily return flights between Cape Town International and Lanseria International
From March 2027:
- Four daily return flights, expanding frequency for leisure and business travellers
Ticket bookings are expected to open through Airlink’s website and standard travel agents in the coming weeks.
How this fits the wider market
Lanseria has grown substantially since FlySafair established it as its primary Johannesburg base, and Kulula and more recently other carriers have added services. Airlink’s entry means travellers flying to Cape Town from the northern Gauteng suburbs can now avoid the city-wide drive to OR Tambo for a direct connection rather than relying on codeshares or connections through Johannesburg.
For visitors arriving into Cape Town who then plan onward domestic travel, more Lanseria capacity also widens the catchment from which day-visitors and shorter-stay guests can reach the Western Cape.