Qatar Airways Acquires 25% Stake in Southern Africa’s Airlink

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Badr Mohammed Al Meer has announced that Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Southern Africa's premier independent regional carrier, Airlink. The announcement, made during a press conference on Tuesday, highlighted that this acquisition will provide the national carrier of Qatar the opportunity to reach travelers to and from regional cities in south and east Africa who are traveling with Airlink. This will bolster Qatar Airways' strategy for growth and expansion in Africa, as it is a vital element for its economic success there. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said: "Our investment in Airlink further demonstrates how integral we see Africa being to our 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 realizing." Airlink Chief Executive, Rodger Foster, said: "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." The investment in Airlink - which flies to more than 45 destinations in 15 African countries - will enhance a code-sharing partnership between the two airlines. The deal will bolster Qatar Airways' Africa growth strategy and cement its role as a key driver to the continent's economic success. Qatar Airways currently flies to 29 destinations in Africa, and there's been robust growth in the market with new destinations added to the Qatar Airways network on the continent since December 20 20. Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt are the African cities newly added to the extensive Qatar Airways network, while Cairo and Alexandria were resumed. Source: Qatar News Agency