Eswatini flag carrier on target for June launch

According to Airlink’s CEO Rodger Foster, the ending of the venture after 23 years was amicable. Eswatini Airlink had been connecting the landlocked country with South Africa’s Johannesburg.

Speaking at the AFRAA aviation stakeholders convention in Nairobi today, President Qiniso Dhlamini, the CEO of the Royal Eswatini National Airways (RNAC) which will manage the Eswatini Air carrier, said final tests for the airline’s AOC were underway in time to begin operations next month.

AT the AFRAA event, Dhlamini signed an GDS agreement with Hahn Air a move that he says will give the new airline access to the global market, tying in with the country’s strategy to attract more tourism. Royal Eswatini has signed an MoU to partner with the country’s tourism authority.

Initially, Eswatini Air will operate two Embraer E145 aircraft with routes planned to Johannesburg, Harare, Durban and Cape Town from its Manzini King Mswati III International base.

Eswatini Air– the new national carrier of Eswatini – is on schedule to begin operations in June following the cessation of operations by the country’s joint venture Eswatini Airlink, led by South Africa’s Airlink.

According to Airlink’s CEO Rodger Foster, the ending of the venture after 23 years was amicable. Eswatini Airlink had been connecting the landlocked country with South Africa’s Johannesburg.

Speaking at the AFRAA aviation stakeholders convention in Nairobi today, President Qiniso Dhlamini, the CEO of the Royal Eswatini National Airways (RNAC) which will manage the Eswatini Air carrier, said final tests for the airline’s AOC were underway in time to begin operations next month.

AT the AFRAA event, Dhlamini signed an GDS agreement with Hahn Air a move that he says will give the new airline access to the global market, tying in with the country’s strategy to attract more tourism. Royal Eswatini has signed an MoU to partner with the country’s tourism authority.

Initially, Eswatini Air will operate two Embraer E145 aircraft with routes planned to Johannesburg, Harare, Durban and Cape Town from its Manzini King Mswati III International base.