Airlink’s CEO and managing director, Rodger Foster, has announced he will step down at the end of March 2025 after leading the airline for nearly 33 years. Current CFO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, will take over as CEO on April 1, 2025, ensuring a smooth transition for the airline’s future. Foster, however, will retain his stake in the airline and continue to serve as a non-executive director.
Foster co-founded Airlink in 1992 with Barrie Webb, at a time when South Africa was undergoing a political transformation, which provided opportunities for new growth in various sectors. The establishment of Airlink coincided with the deregulation of South Africa’s domestic airline industry, allowing private carriers to compete with the state-owned South African Airways (SAA).
Foster reflects on his tenure, “It has been a privilege to have led Airlink through what has been an exciting, at times very challenging, but ultimately 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.”
Engelbrecht, who has been with Airlink for over 20 years, has served in various capacities, including as a non-executive director and executive since 2011. Foster praises Engelbrecht’s leadership, particularly during Airlink’s separation from SAA in 2020 and the subsequent challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. “De Villiers is widely respected in the industry and has worked alongside me, helping to steady Airlink, repurpose it, and put the airline on a course for sustainable growth,” Foster says. Under Engelbrecht’s leadership, Airlink emerged stronger, with a robust balance sheet, aided by a significant equity investment from Qatar Airways Group’s acquisition of a 25% stake in the company.
Reflecting on Airlink’s growth, Foster highlights the airline’s achievements since its founding. Airlink started as a regional carrier offering flights from Johannesburg to Polokwane, Bloemfontein, and Maseru. The airline, originally known as Link Airways, rebranded as SA Airlink in 1995 and partnered with SAA and SA Express in 1997. It grew its fleet to include Embraer Regional Jets and BAe146 aircraft, later replaced by modern Embraer E-Jets. In 2020, Airlink reasserted its independence, ending its franchise with SAA and returning to its original name.
Foster notes that Airlink’s resilience, particularly in navigating the Covid-19 crisis, has been remarkable. “Airlink is a flourishing and resilient business,” he says. Since resuming domestic flights in 2020, the airline has expanded its network, forged partnerships with 30 global carriers, and launched new services, including its SkyBucks loyalty programme in 2023. In 2024, Qatar Airways acquired a 25% stake in Airlink, marking a significant milestone in its international growth.
Today, Airlink operates a fleet of over 65 Embraer jets, serving 50 destinations across 15 countries. With over 4 million passengers and 85,000 flights in 2024, the airline continues to strengthen its position as a leading regional carrier. Airlink’s future looks promising under Engelbrecht’s leadership, as it continues to expand and adapt in an ever-changing aviation landscape.
