Southern African airline, Airlink, was recently honoured at the prestigious international Airline Strategy Awards. Here’s more…
Airlink receives reinvention recognition
Airlink was recently awarded for their successful reinvention as an independent operator in one of the world’s toughest and challenging markets, at the international Airline Strategy Awards in London this past month.
The Airline Strategy Awards were launched back in 2002 and are held by FlightGlobal’s Airline Business, a 110-year old international aerospace and air transport news, publishing & analytics group.
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The award for Executive Leadership: Africa & Middle East was accepted by Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.
“It is an honour to receive this prestigious award on behalf of Airlink, our 2,300 direct employees and over 10,000 downstream families who benefit from and depend upon Airlink’s well-being, as well as our board of directors, shareholders, financial stakeholders, lessors, suppliers and business partners. It is true that the pandemic tested the mettle of every airline the world over, but it created the opportunity for us to re-think and re-model Airlink and step into the sun on our own terms – without shedding a single job,” Foster said in a statement.
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‘A challenging situation turned into a market opportunity’
Graham Dunn, executive editor of FlightGlobal, added that Airlink’s successful reinvention as an independent operator, flying in one of the toughest of markets, was something that was outstanding.
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Dunn said that Airlink turned a challenging situation into a market opportunity, seizing the chance to establish itself as a new independent carrier in South Africa by building a strong domestic and regional network.
“Airlink pitches itself as a premium regional carrier, and that positioning is underlined by its building of a network of partnerships with global players. Judges were further impressed that it has adopted a wider strategy in the region with its stake in FlyNamibia. The judges also suggested that Airlink’s strategy shift is repeatable elsewhere in Africa, proving you don’t need to be a huge airline with huge financial resources to succeed,” Dunn claimed.
