Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% stake in southern African regional carrier Airlink, enhancing a code-sharing partnership between the airlines and allowing Qatar extended reach into more than 15 African countries.

“Having Qatar Airways as an equity partner is a powerful endorsement of Airlink and echoes our faith in the markets we currently serve and plan to add to our network,” commented Airlink chief executive Rodger Foster. “This transaction will unlock growth by providing efficiencies of scale, increasing our capacity and expanding our marketing reach”. The regional carrier currently flies to more than 45 destinations across the continent, whereas Qatar operates services to 29.

Qatar Airways’ group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said that his company’s investment in Airlink “further demonstrates how integral [Qatar Airways] sees Africa being to [its] businesses’ future”, adding: This partnership not only demonstrates our confidence in Airlink, in a company that is resilient, agile, financially robust and governed on sound principles, but also in Africa as a whole, showing huge potential that I am delighted we are able to start help realising”.