Airlink is now operating flights from Johannesburg to both Pietermaritzburg and Bulawayo using its new Embraer 190 E-jets.
The aircraft will slowly replace the current fleet of 12 AvroRJ85s on various routes.
The 98-seat E190 is configured with 92 seats in economy and six in business class, and is larger than the AvroRJ85, which had 83 seats.
Business-class seats have a pitch of 97cm, and seats in economy class have a 79cm pitch. The eight rows forward of the emergency exit in economy class feature an 84cm seat pitch. The Avro RJ85s had a seat pitch averaging 76cm in both economy and business class.
Passengers can now board via air bridges at OR Tambo International Airport, rather than being shuttled to the aircraft which is a first for Airlink.
