Airlink Chief Executive Rodger Foster and Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed. Picture: Supplied
As part of efforts to further develop its operations across the African continent, Qatar Airways Group announced that it has acquired a 25% stake in Southern Africa’s premier independent regional carrier, Airlink.
According to the international airline, the investment in Airlink will enhance a code-sharing partnership between the two airlines as Airlink flies to more than 45 destinations in 15 African countries.
The airline also said that the deal will bolster its Africa growth strategy and cement its role as a key driver to the continent’s economic success.
Commenting on the acquisition, Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said their investment in Airlink further demonstrates how integral they see Africa being to their business’ future.
“This partnership not only demonstrates our confidence in Airlink, as 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 help start realising,” said Mohammed Al-Meer.
Airlink Chief Executive Rodger Foster also commented and said that 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.
“This transaction will unlock growth by providing efficiencies of scale, increasing our capacity and expanding our marketing reach. By bolstering Airlink and its business, this investment will strengthen all of the existing airline partnerships Airlink has nurtured over the years,” said Foster.
The partnership between Qatar Airways and Airlink will also align both carriers’ loyalty programs, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks.
Qatar Airways currently flies to 29 destinations in Africa, and there’s been strong growth in the market with new destinations added to the Qatar Airways network on the continent since December 2020.
Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt are the African cities recently added to the extensive Qatar Airways network, while Cairo and Alexandria were resumed.