Airlink Launches First-Ever Lanseria–Harare Flights to Boost Southern Africa Connectivity

Southern African carrier Airlink will launch the first scheduled flights between Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg and Harare's Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on 15 November 2026. The new route marks the first time a scheduled airline service will operate between the two airports.

The airline will operate the service three times a week using its 98-seat Embraer E190, offering six Business Class seats and 92 Economy Class seats. The aircraft's two-by-two seating configuration means every passenger has either a window or an aisle seat.

Flights will depart Lanseria every Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:00 a.m., arriving in Harare at 8:40 a.m. Return services will leave Harare on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 5:45 p.m., landing back in Johannesburg at 7:25 p.m.

According to Airlink, the schedule has been designed to support business travel, weekend breaks and regional leisure trips. The new service also gives travellers an alternative to the busier O.R. Tambo International Airport, which currently handles all scheduled Johannesburg–Harare flights.

Lanseria's location in Johannesburg's western suburbs makes it especially convenient for passengers travelling from Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Krugersdorp and parts of Pretoria. The airport is also known for shorter queues, faster security screening and quicker arrivals than South Africa's busiest airport.

The new route is expected to strengthen Zimbabwe's tourism sector by making it easier for visitors to reach attractions such as Mana Pools National Park, Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Lake Kariba and the Eastern Highlands. Harare also serves as an important gateway for travellers heading to Victoria Falls.

For travel agents and tour operators, the additional service creates greater flexibility when building Southern African itineraries. It also provides more options for combining South Africa and Zimbabwe into a single holiday or business trip.

The launch further expands Airlink's growing regional network, which connects destinations across Southern Africa, East Africa, Madagascar and St Helena. The airline has increasingly focused on improving intra-African connectivity through strategic routes linking key business and tourism markets.

Tickets for the Lanseria–Harare service are already on sale through Airlink's booking platform. The airline expects the new route to strengthen trade, tourism and business travel while highlighting the growing role of secondary airports in Africa's aviation industry.