Airlink Withdraws FNB Stadium Flyby Application Ahead of Springboks vs All Blacks
- Airlink pulled its application to conduct a flyover above FNB Stadium this Saturday due to a severe weather forecast
- The South African Weather Service warned of a cut-off low bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and a sharp temperature drop from Thursday
- The SA Civil Aviation Authority is separately investigating Airlink's Cape Town flyby during the first Springboks vs All Blacks test on 29 August
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Airlink has withdrawn its application to perform a formation flyby over FNB Stadium ahead of this Saturday's Rugby Championship test between the Springboks and the All Blacks, citing an unfavourable weather forecast that would make the manoeuvre unsafe.
The airline confirmed the decision on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, stating that conditions would not be suitable for a safe formation flight over the Johannesburg venue.
Bad Weather Prompts Airlink to Pull Flyby
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a warning of significant weather deterioration from Thursday, with a cut-off low-pressure system expected to track across parts of the country. SAWS cautioned that the system could bring heavy and disruptive rainfall, damaging winds, rough seas and a sharp drop in temperatures across affected regions.
The planned flyover would have been Airlink's third and final such display over the stadium. In a statement, the airline said it did not want to detract from the occasion.
SACAA Probes Cape Town Flyby From 29 August
Airlink, however, maintained that safety was the primary consideration throughout the Cape Town operation. The airline said the flyby was carefully planned and rehearsed, and had been authorised by Air Traffic Navigation Services. It added that the two aircraft involved were operated by crews totalling more than 75,000 combined flight hours, each holding an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, described as the highest level of commercial pilot qualification.
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On its own initiative, Airlink said it volunteered to hand over the "black box" digital flight data recordings to the SACAA to assist with the compliance review.
Source: Briefly News
