Tag Archives: FAOR
Airlink unveils its hot little black number!
12 JULY 2023, Johannesburg – Airlink, Southern Africa’s independent and privately owned regional airline, unveiled a distinctive special-liveried new addition to its fleet today.
The newly acquired Embraer E195 jetliner, which now sports a classy jet-black paint scheme, debuted on a test flight at O.R. Tambo International Airport this morning and will soon operate on Airlink’s main domestic and regional trunk services.
“Some say flying has lost its allure, but as Southern Africa’s premier airline, Airlink is putting glamour and style back in the skies. In addition to our top-class service provided by our friendly crew in their stylish new uniforms, we have dressed one of our svelte Embraer E-Jets in an elegant and chic little black number,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director Rodger Foster.
The aircraft promotes Airlink’s recently launched Skybucks customer loyalty programme.
“Skybucks is a key component in establishing and consolidating Airlink as an independent, efficient and dependable airline, travel partner and brand. Black is the pinnacle Skybucks tier and a cachet reserved exclusively for the select group of our most loyal high-flyers. On the other hand, our graceful black E-jet will surprise and catch eyes wherever she flies!” explained Mr Foster.
About Airlink
Airlink was established in 1992 and is Southern Africa’s premier privately-owned regional airline. Airlink serves these cities and other destinations throughout Southern Africa, Madagascar, and St Helena Island. It offers worldwide connections through its more than 20 interline and four codeshare partners with many trusted and well-known inter-continental brands and its FlyNamibia franchise.
Airlink has consistently been South Africa’s most on-time airline over the last two years*, with its fleet of more than 60 modern jetliners achieving a 94.21% average on-time performance this year.
Airlink is an International Air Transport Association (IATA) member and accredited under its safety audit programme.
Photos: Justin de Reuck/Airlink.
Indian Air force C17 Globemaster fetches South African cheetahs
Twelve more Cheetahs would be flown from South Africa to India on Saturday 18th February 2023 with the help of an Indian Air Force’s (IAF) C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital on Thursday, India Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav said that these 12 Cheetahs will be released on the same day of their arrival at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The Cheetah Project Chief SP Yadav informed that the aircraft had taken off for South Africa on the morning of Thursday 16th February and will land in Gwalior around 10am on Saturday 18th February.
The cheetahs will be released in Kuno National Park by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the presence of Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Jyotiraditya Scinida on February 18,” SP Yadav said.
He further added that after taking clearance from Customs, the Cheetahs will be brought here by MI-17 helicopter. “All the cheetahs have adapted well to their surroundings in Kuno National Park and were brought from Namibia on 17 September 2022. All cheetahs are keeping well except one named ‘Sasa’, and now she is also doing well,” he added.
Previously on 17 September 2022, eight Cheetahs were brought to the Kuno National Park from Namibia in South Africa and were released by PM Modi on his birthday.
As per MoU with South Africa, the initial batch of 12 cheetahs is to be flown from South Africa to India this month. The MoU terms are to be reviewed every 5 years.
The MoU on the reintroduction of Cheetahs to India facilitates cooperation between the parties to establish a viable and secure cheetah population in India, promotes conservation, and ensures that expertise is shared and exchanged, and capacity is built, to promote cheetah conservation.
Under the ambitious project of the Indian Government-Project Cheetah- the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetahs is being undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.
India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures ‘Project Tiger’ which was initiated in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also to the entire ecosystem.
Both South Africa and India are part of BRIC’S, this tasking of this flight surely will strengthen ties once again with both nations!
BRIC is a grouping acronym referring to the developing countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which are identified as rising economic powers. It is typically rendered as “the BRIC,” “the BRIC countries,” “the BRIC economies,” or alternatively as the “Big Four.” The name has since been changed to BRICS after the addition of South Africa in 2010.
U.S. donates COVID-19 protective gear to South African Health Services
The U.S. government and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) delivered approximately $340,000 in personal protective equipment to the South African National Department of Health (NDoH), August 15.
The equipment, delivered by a U.S. Air Force C-130J, is bound for Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal, where it will benefit front-line health workers.
AFRICOM purchased the supplies, which include N-95 masks, gloves, gowns and sanitizer, using Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid Appropriation (OHDACA) funds after the South African government made a formal request for assistance to the U.S. Embassy.
The command also is supporting the set-up of handwashing stations in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal, contributing $225,000 to this initiative. This brings the total value of U.S. support toward South Africa’s COVID-19 response to more than $46 million.
“U.S. Africa Command is focused on mission and the fight against COVID-19. We’ve been working in close coordination with the Department of State and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide assistance where we can to the international COVID-19 response,” Lt. Gen. Kirk Smith, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command.
“The contributions of critical personal protective equipment and supplies help South Africa and reflect our commitment to partnership in Africa,” he said.
The U.S. has had a long-standing relationship with South Africa. This relationship includes a commitment to improving security and military cooperation to advance peace and security in the region.
On the occasion of the C-130’s arrival, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks said, “We are so proud of our growing partnership with South Africa’s National Defense Forces and our cooperation to ensure peace in the region. This delivery of lifesaving equipment, critically needed here in South Africa, shows how we can leverage the infrastructure of our strong defense cooperation to further bolster the U.S. support to South Africa’s ongoing COVID-19 response.”
Earlier this summer, AFRICOM Foreign Humanitarian Assistance funds provided 11,064 face shields earmarked for the South African Military Health Service and two additional projects provided surgical face masks and protective face shields to assist the South African Government.