Qatar Airways has purchased a 25% stake in South African regional carrier Airlink, marking a significant expansion of its operations in Africa. The investment aims to strengthen the existing code-sharing partnership between the two airlines and boost Qatar Airways’ presence across the continent.

Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group CEO, emphasised the importance of Africa to the company’s future, stating that the investment demonstrates confidence in both Airlink and the continent’s potential.

Airlink CEO Rodger Foster welcomed the partnership, highlighting the expected benefits of increased efficiency, capacity, and marketing reach. The collaboration is set to align the airlines’ loyalty programmes and expand their combined network.

Qatar Airways currently serves 29 African destinations, having added nine new routes since December 2020. This move comes amidst a broader trend of international carriers expanding their African operations, with Lufthansa, Norse Atlantic Airways, and South African Airways all announcing new routes or increased services to and from South Africa.

The investment underscores Qatar Airways’ commitment to playing a key role in Africa’s economic development and aviation sector growth.

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Source: Business Tech