Johannesburg – Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, will undergo a change of leadership following the decision by CEO and Managing Director Rodger Foster to step down at the end of March 2025 after almost 33 years at the company’s helm.
Airlink’s current Chief Financial Officer, de Villiers Engelbrecht, will take over from Foster as the company’s new CEO with effect from 1 April 2025.
Foster will remain a shareholder in the airline and will continue serving as a non-executive director.
Foster has served as the CEO and Managing Director since co-founding the business in June 1992 with Barrie Webb.
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.
Airlink’s establishment coincided with the deregulation of South Africa’s domestic airline industry, allowing privately owned airlines to compete with the state-owned national carrier.
“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,” said Foster on Thursday, (28 November 2024).
“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 has been involved in Airlink for over 20 years, he 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,” said Foster.
“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.”
Airlink was established in June 1992 when Foster and Webb acquired the assets and infrastructure of the illiquid Link Airways from its administrator.
With a small mixed fleet of light commuter aircraft, Airlink set out to achieve its objective of providing air connections to the communities and economies of smaller centres in South Africa which did not enjoy convenient air services, if any scheduled flights at all.
“Airlink is a flourishing and resilient business. It has a strong balance sheet that has been bolstered by an equity injection from Qatar Airways Group’s acquisition of a 25 percent stake in the company,” said Foster.
“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,” he added.
Since 2020, Airlink has also forged commercial ties with 30 other international airlines, incorporating 40 commercial agreements.
These include interline agreements and code-share partnerships with many of the world’s trusted and well-known airlines.
This has extended Airlink’s reach into markets around the world that were previously beyond its grasp.
