Airlink Embraers Complete Two-Pass Flypast over Ellis Park

Two specially liveried Airlink Embraers made reciprocal and formation passes over Ellis Park ahead of the first Springboks–All Blacks Test in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026.

Airlink staged a two-aircraft flypast over Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August, ahead of the opening Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026.

The flypast involved the green-liveried Embraer E190 ZS-YAE and black-liveried Embraer E195 ZS-YDE, with both aircraft carrying the official Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 Tour logo as part of their respective liveries. They departed from O.R. Tambo International Airport and returned there after completing the display.

The crews presented the aircraft in two different sequences.

During the first pass, at about 16:59 SAST, ZS-YAE approached the stadium from the north on a southbound track, while ZS-YDE approached from the south on a northbound track. Flightradar24 tracking data indicate that ZS-YAE crossed near the centre of the stadium approximately 13 seconds before ZS-YDE. Their reciprocal tracks brought the aircraft past one another just south of Ellis Park.

Both aircraft were travelling at close to 180 knots groundspeed during the reciprocal pass. The tracking files recorded ZS-YAE at 177 knots near the stadium, while ZS-YDE was recorded at 181 knots.

Around 11 minutes later, the two Embraers returned for a second pass, flying northbound in formation over Ellis Park. Their groundspeeds during the formation pass were approximately 140–150 knots.

Flightradar24 recorded both aircraft close to 5,500 feet pressure altitude during the flypast. After allowing for local air pressure and the elevation of Ellis Park, their estimated height above the playing surface was approximately 210–300 feet. This was calculated from the available tracking, weather and terrain data and was not an officially confirmed flypast height.

Six Airlink captains took part in the operation. ZS-YAE was crewed by Captains Jaco Henning, Johan Nicolaisen and Ruan Burger, while Captains Dean Nicholas, Frik Nell and Chris Cook crewed ZS-YDE.

Airlink is the official domestic carrier for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 Tour. The airline is transporting the competing national teams’ players, coaches, management and support personnel between the South African fixtures.