Cape Town travellers no longer need to backtrack through Johannesburg to reach Mauritius. Airlink has launched its first route to the island, a non-stop service from the Mother City that took off with its inaugural flight this week.
The flights run twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, using Airlink's new Embraer E195-E2. Outbound flight 4Z 350 leaves Cape Town at 10:05 and lands in Mauritius at 17:15, while the return, 4Z 351, departs at 18:15 and touches back down in Cape Town at 22:35. The daytime schedule is deliberate: no red-eyes or pre-dawn airport runs, so holidaymakers keep more usable beach time and business travellers can slot the island into a working week.
The route makes sense on both sides of the aisle. Mauritius welcomed over 1.4 million visitors in 2025, and South Africa ranks among its biggest source markets. Beyond tourism, more than 140 South African companies operate on the island across agriculture, manufacturing, consumer goods and ICT, with financial services and outsourcing adding further weight to the commercial ties. Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht called the route an important addition to the network, made possible by the E195-E2, the airline's new flagship aircraft.
The plane itself is a draw. It seats 124 passengers, with 12 in a staggered Business Class layout. Economy is a two-by-two configuration, so nobody draws the short straw with a middle seat, and everyone gets a window or aisle. Add decent legroom, large windows at eye level, power outlets and complimentary meals and drinks, and the roughly four-hour hop feels reasonably civilised.
Luggage terms are generous too, particularly for active travellers. Discounted Economy fares include 20kg of checked baggage and full-fare Economy gets 30kg, with an extra 15kg sporting equipment allowance on top for golf clubs, diving gear or surfboards — handy for an island with championship golf courses and world-class diving.
For Western Cape holidaymakers, the practical upshot is simple: a direct, daytime flight to one of the Indian Ocean's most accessible island escapes, bookable via Airlink's website, app or a travel agent. If you've been putting off a Mauritius trip because of the Jo'burg connection hassle, this removes the excuse.
