Airlink Launches Cape Town–Mauritius, Its First-Ever Indian Ocean Island Route

South African regional carrier Airlink will launch twice-weekly direct flights between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) in Mauritius from October 2, 2026, marking the airline's first-ever service to the Indian Ocean island nation.

The route will be operated by Airlink's new Embraer E195-E2 flagship aircraft, configured with 124 seats — 12 in business class and 112 in economy — with no middle seats across either cabin. At approximately 2,226 nautical miles (4,122 km) sector length, Aerospace Global News noted it will be among the longest scheduled E195-E2 flights in the world, though still within the type's published range envelope.

The Cape Town–Mauritius route will enter a market already served by Air Mauritius (MK) and South African Airways (SA), both of which use widebody and standard narrowbody aircraft. Airlink positions the service as a bypass of Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, sparing leisure and business travellers the need to connect through the hub.

CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht cited the E195-E2's economics as the enabling factor: "Our new flagship aircraft, the E195-E2, makes it possible for Airlink to conveniently connect Cape Town with Mauritius."

Bookings opened on June 10, 2026. The announcement was confirmed by Airlink's official website, Aviation Week, Simple Flying, and LARA News.

Sources

• https://www.flyairlink.com/cape-town-mauritius-route-launch
• https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/routes-networks-latest-rolling-daily-updates-wc-june-15-2026
• https://simpleflying.com/airlink-unveils-new-65-hour-embraer-flights
• https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/embraer-e195-e2-flight-cape-town-mauritius-airlink
• https://www.laranews.net/airlink-deploys-embraer-e195%E2%80%91e2-on-new-cape-town-mauritius-route