Airlink, one of southern Africa’s premier airlines, will undergo a leadership change following the decision by chief executive officer and managing director  Rodger Foster to step down at the end of March 2025. 

Foster will be relinquishing control of the airline after almost 33 years at the helm. 

Airlink’s chief financial officer, De Villiers Engelbrecht, will take over from Foster as the 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  political transition with sanctions and boycotts gradually being lifted and the doors 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 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,” said Foster. 

Engelbrecht has been involved in Airlink for over 20 years, having served as a non-executive director for a while, and joining as an executive in February 2011. 

“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 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 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 stated. 

“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% stake in the company. 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. 

Airlink, which remains a fully-independent private sector airline, is a franchisor to FlyNamibia. The two airlines have synchronised their schedules on flights linking both Johannesburg and Cape Town with Windhoek and Walvis Bay. 

In a strategy that complements and takes advantage of Airlink’s regional footprint, FlyNamibia is extending its network beyond Namibia  to position Hosea Kutako International Airport as a gateway and connecting hub for travel to other southern African destinations. 

In August 2024, Qatar Airways acquired a 25% equity stake in Airlink, marking one of the most significant foreign investments in a South African airline, and a powerful endorsement of Airlink and its market.