Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster, will step down next year, paving the way for new leadership at the airline.
Airlink will undergo a change of leadership following the decision by its CEO Rodger Foster, to step down at the end of March 2025
FOSTER BIDS FAREWELL
Foster has been at the helm of the full-service independently-owned airline for over three decades.
He has served as Airlink’s CEO and Managing Director since co-founding the airline in June 1992.
At that time, South Africa was undergoing a political transition with sanctions and boycotts gradually being lifted and the doors being opened for increased trade, commerce, arts, and tourism.
The founding of Airlink coincided with the deregulation of SA’s domestic airline industry, allowing privately owned airlines to compete with the national carrier.
AIRLINK CEO STEPS DOWN
Airlink’s current Chief Financial Officer, de Villiers Engelbrecht, will take over from Foster as the company’s new CEO, effective 1 April 2025.
However, Foster will remain a shareholder in the airline and will continue to serve as a non-executive director.
“It has been a privilege to have led Airlink through what has been an exciting, at times very challenging, but ultimately a rewarding and fulfilling journey. However, after more than three decades in the post, it is time to hand over the flight controls to my successor and our Chief Financial Officer, de Villiers Engelbrecht,” Foster said.
SUCCESSION PLAN
Engelbrecht is indeed well-placed to take over the reins as the current Airlink CEO steps down.
VoyagesAfriq reports that he has also been involved with the airline for a lengthy period of more than 20 years.
Engelbrecht served as a non-executive director for a period and joined as an executive in February 2011.
“de Villiers is widely respected in the industry and has worked alongside me, helping to steady Airllink, repurpose it and put the airline on a course for sustainable growth in the face of two existential threats to the company. These included Airlink’s separation from SAA due to SAA’s business rescue, followed closely by the COVID-19 travel restrictions which jolted air travel to a standstill. He has had hands-on exposure to all of the key elements that constitute the airline business and has the support of the entire executive team, the broader management as well as all our external stakeholders,” Foster said.
QATAR AIRWAYS INVESTS IN AIRLINK
Airlink has proven its mettle, emerging as one of the strongest airline brands on the continent in challenging post-pandemic times.
In June 2020 Airlink was the first airline to resume domestic flights after the local COVID-19 travel bans were withdrawn and it used the opportunity to introduce flights on the main Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-Durban trunk routes, which it had previously not operated.
It also added more domestic and regional routes to its network as the remaining travel restrictions were lifted.
In August 2024 Qatar Airways acquired an equity stake in Airlink, marking one of the most significant foreign investments in a South African airline and a powerful endorsement of Airlink and the markets it serves.
Airlink is indeed a flourishing and resilient business. The company has a strong balance sheet.
This has in fact been bolstered by an equity injection from Qatar Airways Group. It will take a 25 percent stake in the local airline.
AIRLINK CEO RECOGNISES TEAM AS HE STEPS DOWN
Foster thanked the Airlink team for their efforts and dedication in taking Airlink to great heights.
“Since 2020 Airlink has built a constellation of commercial partnerships with many of the world’s leading airlines. None of this would have been possible without the tireless support of the entire dedicated, diligent and professional Airlink team who it has been my privilege to lead,” Foster added.
Airlink’s current fleet comprises over 65 modern Embraer aircraft.
In the 2024 financial year (to 31 August 2024) more than 4 million passengers flew on over 85 000 Airlink flights. Airlink flies to 50 destinations in 15 countries including Madagascar and St Helena Island in the South Atlantic.
What are your experiences with Airlink?
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