Eswatini flag carrier on target for June launch

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.

RENAC chief executive President Qiniso Dhlamini leading Eswatini Air towards launch next month (Image Aerocomm)

 

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.

Alan Peaford

Alan Peaford MBE

Alan is a regular broadcaster and is the consultant editor-in-chief and presenter for Times Aerospace TV and is a regular commentator on aviation issues for many global broadcasting channels. He is conference chairman of the Aviation Africa summit and the Aviation MENA summit and has moderated or chaired conferences for organisations such as IATA, DCAA, the Global Aerospace Summit and business aviation associations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.