Direct Flights from Johannesburg to Nosy Be, Madagascar on Airlink

Miles Willis
Feb 6
3 min read

Here’s the most up-to-date info available on Airlink’s direct flights between Johannesburg (JNB) and Nosy Be (NOS) — including typical days of operation, flight time, aircraft details, and other useful notes:

✈️ Airlink Direct Flights – Johannesburg to Nosy Be (Madagascar)

📍 Route & Airline• Operated by Airlink (flight number usually 4Z246).

🗓 Typical Days of Operation• Historically, this direct JNB → Nosy Be service has flown on Wednesdays and Sundays during published periods. • Timetables sometimes change seasonally and schedules for future months may not be fully published far in advance yet — but weekly service (1–2 flights per week) is the norm during peak travel periods.

🕒 Flight Time & Distance• Flight duration is about 3 hours 30 minutes – 3 hours 35 minutes non-stop. • The distance is roughly 1 580 – 1 600 miles (≈ 2 540 – 2 550 km) between JNB and Nosy Be.

🛫 Departure & Arrival Windows• Typical departure from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (JNB) is in the morning (often around 09:10 – 09:40). • Arrival at Nosy Be Fascene Airport (NOS) is in the early afternoon (around 13:40 – 14:10).

✈️ Aircraft Type & Seating• Airlink usually operates this route with regional jets such as the Embraer E-Jet family — commonly Embraer 190 or variants like E190/E195. • These aircraft typically seat around 90–98 passengers, offering a domestic-regional comfort level with both economy and some premium seating.

📌 Other Useful Notes• Flights generally depart from Terminal B at O.R. Tambo International Airport. • Because schedules can shift by season and are sometimes published only months ahead, availability for future travel periods (e.g., late 2026) may not yet be visible in public timetables — but weekly direct flights remain expected for high season. • Return flights from Nosy Be to Johannesburg are typically slightly longer (around 3 h 50 m) due to winds and routing.

🧳 What This Means for Travellers

✅ Convenient access: A direct flight from South Africa straight to Nosy Be makes planning beach holidays, romantic escapes, and nature trips much simpler. ✅ Morning departure, early afternoon arrival: Great for getting a full first day on the island. ✅ Regional aircraft: Comfortable for short international hops and ideal for leisure travellers. ❗ Seasonal spots: While weekly flight days (Weds & Sun) are common, they can vary, so checking specific dates at booking is recommended.

Why a Sunbird?

In Africa, sunbirds are found mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. The Airlink network covers the same area as an inter-airline service provider, expanding its routes further into that territory.
The primary food source of the sunbird is nectar, making them important pollinators in the African ecosystem. Airlink connects destinations in southern African markets, collecting passengers (nectar) at different points and connecting them with business opportunities in widespread towns and cities (flowers) and so impacting the regional and local economy and having a positive impact on business.
The sunbird flies from flower to flower, hovering and pausing to collect nectar. Airlink goes to different destinations, where they pause to offload passengers and their luggage before turning the aircraft around, refuelled, cleaned and sanitised, collecting new passengers and flying back to another destination – flitting like the bird between cities and towns.
The sunbird plays a crucial role in the pollination of African species such as proteas, aloes and coral trees, helping to ensure high floral density. Their flight is also fast and direct, thanks to their short wings. The Airlink network is fast and direct, from point to point, with convenient, quick turnarounds.
Most sunbird species are resistant to changes in habitat. Airlink is a resilient, privately-owned, profitable company that continues to flourish in a challenging industry.