Turkish Airlines signs codeshare deal with Airlink to deepen Africa reach

July 11, 2025 in Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

L-R:Ms Ozlem Salihoglu, Turkish Airlines Senior Vice President: International Relations and Alliances Mr Levent Konukcu, Turkish Airlines Chief Investment and Strategy Officer Mr de Villiers Engelbrecht, Airlink CEO Ms Katherine Whelan, Airlink Chief Commercial Officer

Flag carrier Turkish Airlines has signed a strategic codeshare agreement with South African regional carrier Airlink, expanding its footprint across Southern Africa and enhancing connectivity for travellers navigating between Africa and the rest of the world.

The partnership, which comes into effect on 1 August 2025, marks Airlink’s 11th active codeshare collaboration.

The agreement was signed at Airlink’s headquarters in Johannesburg during a ceremony attended by senior executives from both carriers. It will allow Turkish Airlines to place its “TK” flight code on a number of Airlink-operated routes, enabling passengers to travel seamlessly across multiple sectors on a single ticket. The codeshare covers Airlink’s domestic and regional services from Johannesburg and Cape Town, significantly broadening access to Southern African destinations for Turkish Airlines customers.

Levent Konukcu, Chief Investment & Strategy Officer of Turkish Airlines, described the deal as a key enabler in strengthening the airline’s network and value proposition in Africa.

“We give great importance to this cooperation with Airlink to enhance our connectivity in South Africa and the wider region. This partnership is designed to increase the travel options available to our guests, improve connectivity, and foster stronger cultural and tourism ties between Türkiye and Southern Africa,” said Konukcu.

The collaboration enables Turkish Airlines to tap into Airlink’s well-established presence across Southern Africa, where it operates more than 65 jetliners to cities and remote destinations throughout South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar, and as far as St Helena Island.

For travellers, the new partnership means simplified connections, coordinated schedules, and the ability to check in luggage through to final destinations—benefits that are especially crucial for business and leisure passengers transiting through Istanbul to Southern Africa or vice versa.

Airlink CEO, De Villiers Engelbrecht, emphasized the importance of the agreement for both airlines’ customers.

“This collaboration represents a significant opportunity to deepen ties between Turkish Airlines and Airlink,” said Engelbrecht. “It endorses our brand strength and brings real value to customers through more convenient travel options and world-class service across our expanded network.”

Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet of 485 aircraft and flies to 353 destinations in 131 countries. The Star Alliance member continues to position itself as a key connector between continents, with Istanbul serving as a strategic hub between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Airlink, established in 1992, is Southern Africa’s largest privately-owned airline and has developed a strong network serving both popular and remote destinations in the region. The carrier maintains partnerships with several major international airlines and is a member of IATA. It is also certified under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) program.