Qatar Airways Group has secured a 25 percent ownership interest in Airlink, the leading independent regional airline in Southern Africa. This development aligns with the award-winning airline’s ongoing objective to expand its operations throughout the African continent.
The investment in Airlink, which services over 45 destinations across 15 African nations, will strengthen the existing code-sharing agreement between the two carriers. This partnership is expected to support Qatar Airways’ growth strategy in Africa and reinforce its position as a significant contributor to the continent’s economic advancement.
In the announcement, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Group, stated: “Our investment in Airlink underscores our belief in the vital role Africa will play in the future of our business. This collaboration not only reflects our trust in Airlink as a resilient, agile, and financially sound company governed by strong principles, but also highlights our confidence in the broader African market, which possesses immense potential that we are pleased to help begin to realize.”
Rodger Foster, the Chief Executive of Airlink, stated that the partnership with Qatar Airways as an equity stakeholder represents a significant endorsement of Airlink. He emphasized that this collaboration reflects their confidence in both their current markets and those they intend to incorporate into their network. This agreement is expected to facilitate growth by enhancing operational efficiencies, expanding capacity, and broadening marketing outreach. Furthermore, by reinforcing Airlink and its operations, this investment will fortify the airline partnerships that Airlink has developed over the years.
The collaboration between Qatar Airways and Airlink aims to synchronize the loyalty programs of both airlines, namely the Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks.
Currently, Qatar Airways operates flights to 29 destinations across Africa, experiencing significant market growth with the introduction of new routes since December 2020.
The recently added African cities to the comprehensive Qatar Airways network include Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt, in addition to the resumption of services to Cairo and Alexandria.
