Airlink launches one of the world’s longest Embraer E195-E2 routes with new Mauritius flights
Airlink of South Africa is launching one of the world’s longest Embraer E195-E2 flights from October. The carrier will begin direct non-stop flights between Cape Town and Mauritius, operating twice weekly using the twin-engine Embraer jet.
With a sector length of around 2,226 nautical miles, the route will be among the longest scheduled passenger services operated by the Embraer E195-E2.
The distance sits well below Embraer’s current published maximum range of 3,000 nautical miles, although older and airline-specific figures for the type are often closer to 2,600 nautical miles depending on configuration and operating assumptions.
Airlink launches new Embraer E195-E2 flights to Mauritius
The South African independent carrier Airlink has said that it will begin operations on the Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) on 2 October.
Flights will operate twice weekly and will use the carrier’s fleet of Embraer E195-E2 jets. The airline currently operates three of the latest E2 variant of the E195.
Bookings for the flight opened on 10 June, with the service becoming the carrier’s first service to the Indian Ocean island.
In a statement announcing the new service, Airlink said that the E195-E2 will be configured to carry 124 passengers in a two-class layout – 12 in business class and 112 in economy class.
Cape Town is Airlink’s second hub (after OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg) from which the airline operates domestic and regional flights as well as long-haul connections with Airlink’s partner airlines.
According to the airline, the schedule for the route is being designed so that leisure travellers can maximise their holiday time and corporate travellers can enhance their business itineraries without disruptive middle-of-the-night or pre-dawn departures or arrivals.
Onboard the flights, customers will be served with complimentary meals and refreshments throughout the flight.
The flight will depart from Cape Town at 22:05 on Thursdays and Sundays, arriving in Mauritius at 05:10 the following day. The return flight will depart Mauritius at 16:35 on Fridays and Mondays, arriving in Cape Town at 20:30. Flight numbers are yet to be allocated to the route.
Mauritius is growing in popularity for business and leisure
The route is being set up to cater for the growing number of travellers visiting the Indian Ocean island from both South Africa and elsewhere overseas.
The destination’s luxury beach resorts, golf courses and visa-on-arrival system for citizens of over 140 countries are all aspects that ensure the island’s ongoing popularity with overseas tourists.
Mauritius also attracts business travel through its financial services, IT, textiles, agriculture and fisheries sectors, alongside tax and investment incentives aimed at international companies.
“Our new flagship aircraft, the E195-E2, makes it possible for Airlink to conveniently connect Cape Town with Mauritius,” said de Villiers Engelbrecht, Airlink’s CEO.
“Cape Town is also an important source market and connecting hub for leisure and business travellers wanting to travel to the island while avoiding the hassle and additional time connecting in Johannesburg,” he added.
Not quite the longest E2 flight worldwide
While Airlink’s flights between Cape Town and Mauritius will push the Embraer E195-E2 close to its limit in terms of range, other operators stretch the type’s range even closer to its envelope.
The crown for the longest current route using the type goes to Air Peace of Nigeria. The Lagos-based airline operates its E2 jets between Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) and Johannesburg Airport (JNB), a route with a sector length of 2,436 nautical miles (4.512 km), some 210 miles longer than the new Airlink service. The flight takes around six hours and 20 minutes to complete.
Elsewhere, in North America, Porter Airlines operates two more of the longest flights using its fleet of 53 Embraer E2s. These operate from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), with sector lengths of 2,175 nautical miles (4,028 km) and 2,259 nautical miles (4,183 km), respectively.
Over in Europe, two carriers in particular operate their Embraer E2s on extra-long routes. TUI fly Belgium operates its three aircraft between Antwerp (ANR) and Tel Aviv (TLV), a route of 2,033 nautical miles (3,765 km).
Meanwhile, Widerøe of Norway operates its three E195-E2 aircraft between Bergen (BGO) and Lanzarote (ACE), a distance of 2,336 miles (4,326 km), making it the second-longest E2 flight worldwide after the Air Peace operation.
Airlink has flown the E2 further than anyone else
While Airlink’s new route between Cape Town and Mauritius will not be the longest E2 passenger flight, it was another Airlink Embraer that holds the record for the longest ever flight performed by the jet.
In September 2025, the carrier’s first Embraer E195-E2 became the record holder for the longest-ever E2 flight when it performed its delivery flight from Brazil.
On 22 September 2025, Airlink’s first Embraer E195-E2 (with registration ZS-ARF) took off from Embraer’s final assembly facility in São José dos Campos (SJK) and flew directly to Cape Town.
Flightradar24 logged the flight time at just under eight hours for the 3,400 nautical mile (6,296 km) trip, significantly beyond the published range of the E2 aircraft.
Featured image: Airlink
