Qatar Airways Secures 25% Stake in Airlink

Qatar Airways Group has taken a significant step in expanding its influence across the African continent by acquiring a 25% stake in Southern Africa's leading independent regional airline, Airlink. This move aligns with Qatar Airways' ongoing strategy to enhance its operations and cement its position as a key player in Africa's economic and business landscape.

Airlink, which services over 45 destinations across 15 African countries, will see its existing code-sharing partnership with Qatar Airways further strengthened by this investment. The collaboration is set to advance Qatar Airways’ growth strategy in Africa, underscoring the airline’s commitment to driving economic progress on the continent.

Commenting on the acquisition, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, stated: "Our investment in Airlink underscores the crucial role Africa plays in our future growth plans. This partnership not only reflects our confidence in Airlink as a resilient and financially robust company but also highlights the immense potential of the African market, which we are eager to help unlock."

Airlink's Chief Executive, Rodger Foster, welcomed the partnership, saying: "Having Qatar Airways as an equity partner is a strong endorsement of Airlink's business model and the markets we serve. This investment will accelerate our growth by enhancing operational efficiencies, increasing capacity, and expanding our marketing reach. It will also strengthen the partnerships Airlink has cultivated over the years."

The partnership will also align the loyalty programs of both airlines, integrating Qatar Airways Privilege Club with Airlink Skybucks.

Qatar Airways currently operates flights to 29 destinations in Africa and has seen considerable growth in the region, with new routes added to its network since December 2020, including cities such as Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt, alongside the resumption of services to Cairo and Alexandria.