Türkiye's national airline, Turkish Airlines, is partnering with South African Airlink through a new codeshare agreement scheduled to begin on August 1, 2025.
Formed at Airlink's Johannesburg headquarters, the deal aims to provide travelers with more seamless travel options while strengthening Turkish Airlines' footprint in Africa.
This strategic partnership combines Turkish Airlines' vast global network with Airlink's extensive national and regional routes in South Africa and beyond.
New Codeshare Agreement
Travelers benefit from single tickets, multi-sector travel, providing greater convenience and flexibility.
The agreement allows Turkish Airlines' “TK” flight codes to appear on Airlink-operated flights. This will allow for smooth connections from Turkish Airlines services to Johannesburg and Cape Town, making it a variety of destinations in South Africa and the region.
Levent Konouk, Chief Investment & Strategy Officer at Turkish Airlines, highlighted the value of the partnership. “This collaboration with Airlink will enhance connectivity in South Africa and the region.”
“We aim to deepen this partnership and maximize travel opportunities for our guests. Beyond commercial interests, we believe that this agreement will promote stronger cultural and tourism relations between Türkiye and South Africa.”
Airlink CEO De Villiers Engelbrecht provided further supportive comments. “Affiliation with Turkish Airlines is an important step for Airlink. This agreement approves our brand and provides our customers with convenient world-class travel options across the overall route network.”
About Airlink
Airlink, South Africa's largest independent regional airline, connects 12 African countries and more than 45 destinations on St. Helena with a fleet of over 50 commercial jet liners.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, Airlink operates important routes that connect major cities such as Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth to regional hubs such as Gaboron, Lusaka and Victoria Falls.
Known for its reliability and customer-focused service, Airlink ranked third in the “Best Regional Airlines in Africa” category and was named “Africa Cleanest Airlines” at the 2025 SkyTrax World Airline Awards.
The airline's modern fleet consists primarily of Embraer Regional Jets.
Since becoming independent from South African Airlines in 2020, Airlink has grown significantly and has established itself as South Africa's leading airline.
In 2025, Airlink expanded its fleet by leasing 10 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, increasing capacity by 33%, allowing new routes across sub-Saharan Africa.
The airline also secured a 25% equity investment from Qatar Airways in 2024, strengthening its financial and operational capabilities.
Additionally, Airlink's codeshare agreements with global carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Emirates will increase connectivity and allow seamless single-ticket travel to more than 340 international destinations through partner hubs.
Airlink is committed to sustainability and was certified as an International Air Transport Association Environmental Assessment (IENVA) in 2025.
The airline is also working with initiatives like United of the Royal Foundation for Wildlife to combat the illegal wildlife trade to support conservation efforts.
Despite challenges in the South African aviation sector, it includes navigation inefficiencies that bring Airlink to R55 million annually.
Conclusion
The Codeshare Partnership not only supports Turkish Airlines' growth strategy in Africa, but also strengthens its regional presence.
By integrating Airlink's regional expertise with Turkish Airlines' global reach, the collaboration creates a robust network for international and regional travelers.
This codeshare agreement strengthens the relationship between the two airlines and their respective countries. We promise to improve accessibility, streamlined travel experiences, and encourage tourism and cultural exchange.
