Rodger Foster, the CEO and Managing Director of South Africa’s Airlink, will step down from his position after nearly 33 years of leadership. Foster co-founded the airline in 1992 and has served as CEO and Managing Director since then, leading it to become the prominent African airline it is today.
Who will succeed Rodger Foster?
Airlink will undergo a leadership change when Rodger Foster steps down at the end of March 2025. He will be succeeded by the company’s current Chief Financial Officer, de Villiers Engelbrecht, with effect from April 1, 2025. However, Foster will remain an Airlink shareholder and continue serving as a non-executive director.
Engelbrecht has been involved with the airline for over 20 years, serving as a non-executive director for a period and joining as an executive in February 2011. He has played a significant role in ensuring the sustainable growth of the airline. Speaking about the development, Rodger Foster said,
“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. 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.”
Foster added that Engelbrecht, a widely respected figure in the industry, helped steady the airline when it faced two existential threats: its separation from South African Airways when the national carrier entered business rescue in December 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic that followed a few months later.
The new CEO has had hands-on exposure to all the key elements of the airline business and has received full support from the executive team, the broader management, and external shareholders.
Three decades of Airlink
Rodger Foster founded Airlink in June 1992 with his partner Barrie Webb when the pair acquired the assets and infrastructure of the illiquid Link Airways from its administrator. The airline began operations with a fleet of light commuter aircraft, providing connectivity to the communities and economies of underserved centers in South Africa.
The airline operated from its base at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (known as Jan Smuts International Airport at the time), initially flying to Polokwane (Pietersburg), Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, Mbombela (Nelspruit), and Maseru.
The airline quickly grew, and in March 1995, having rebranded as SA Airlink, it introduced a fleet of 28-seat Jetstream J41 aircraft. The first one was handed over to Rodger Foster by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at Johannesburg’s Grand Central Airport.
That same year, the airline joined SAA’s Voyager frequent flyer program before establishing a franchise business with SAA and SA Express in 1997. The franchise agreement lasted until 2020, when Airlink reverted to its original name and rebranded as a fully independent private-sector airline.
Africa’s largest private airline
According to ch-aviation, Airlink is Africa’s third-largest airline and the continent’s largest private carrier by fleet size. It operates over 65 Embraer jets flying to 50 destinations in 15 countries, including St Helena, one of the world’s most remote islands. In the year ending August 2024, the airline carried over 4 million passengers across 85,000 flights.
Over the last few years, Airlink has entered several codeshare and interline agreements with major carriers flying to South Africa, including United Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad, allowing it to reach new markets worldwide. Last year, the carrier launched Skybucks, its independent loyalty program to reward frequent travelers.
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One of the most significant milestones during Foster’s tenure came in August 2024, when Qatar Airways acquired a 25% stake in Airlink. This marked one of the most significant foreign investments in a South African airline. The Qatar Airways CEO had hinted that the airline would invest in a southern African carrier, calling it the “final piece of the puzzle.”
Source: https://simpleflying.com/airlink-co-founder-steps-down-33-years-ceo/
