Airlink will retire its last seven remaining Jetstream 41s fleet which will gradually be replaced by ERJ-135s. The new fleet will offer increased capacity and shorter flight times.  The Jetstream 41s are used to operate flights connecting OR Tambo, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Richards Bay, Maputo, Durban King Shaka, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, East London, and Port Elizabeth for and on behalf of South African Airways.
Airlink CEO, Rodger Foster, said: “The intent would be to replace operational aircraft on a one for one basis with additional Embraer ERJ135 aircraft. The net result will be an increase in capacity of 28% on flights where the J41 is replaced by the ERJ135.” 
The J41 is a 29-seat turbo prop aircraft whereas the ERJ135 is 37-seat regional jet and the AvroRJ85 is an 83-seat regional jet. Airlink’s fleet includes twelve ARJ-85s, fourteen ERJ-135s, and one ERJ-145.
"Airlink now needs to focus on simplification of its fleet by way of rationalisation of types and to this end, emphasis will be on increasing its fleet of larger jet aircraft to cope with growing demand and greater distances," Foster said. "The J41 has served this company well and we have continued to invest in the fleet."