AIRLINK takes home the 2025 DIRCO Ubuntu Economic Diplomacy Award

February 11, 2025 in Companies, Foreign News, Trade & Industry by Editor

South Africa’s Airlink became this year’s recipient of South Africa’s Department of International Relations & Cooperation’s -DIRCO- 2025 Ubuntu Economic Diplomacy Award.  Presented this past weekend, the prestigious annual honour is given to a South African business operating primarily in Africa.

Airlink was recognised for its contribution to South Africa’s reputation as an ideal destination to conduct business and to South Africa’s socio-economic goals, including job creation, trade facilitation and attracting investment.  The award was presented to Airlink in Cape Town on Saturday at a ceremony hosted by the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ronald Lamola.

“Ubuntu’s core principles are interdependence and interconnectivity. Connecting people with people and people with places is Airlink’s mission. Forging economically sustainable connectivity is our passion and our customers are the reason for our existence.   It is widely acknowledged that air access is a catalyst for socio-economic upliftment. This accolade confirms the positive impact of our services on the people, communities, markets, and economies we serve and connect,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

Over the past four years, Airlink has increased its flights by 31pc, doubled its seat capacity, and increased “bums in seats” by more than 200pc.   It has also expanded its route network, which today reaches 47 destinations in 16 African countries and St Helena Island.   At the same time, Airlink has established 40 active commercial partnerships with many of the world’s most trusted airlines, creating new inter-continental connections for trade, travel, tourism, and economic growth.

“Africa hosts 18pc of the global population yet accounts for less than 2pc of air travel. This gap, corroborated by the inequality between Africa’s GDPs per capita and that of the global average, can surely be closed. To this end, we are committed to play our part in facilitating economic growth and help create jobs.  Our ability to live by the principles of Ubuntu in providing safe, reliable, economically stimulating air services is reliant on all the actors in the value chain. After all, Ubuntu is “I am because we are”, we’re interdependent and connected,” added Mr Foster.