Qatar Airways has acquired a 25% stake in the regional carrier Airlink as part of its broader strategy to expand operations across South Africa. This investment is intended to strengthen the existing code-share partnership between the two airlines and expand Airlink’s capacity and marketing reach.

Additionally, the investment aims to align the loyalty programs of both carriers, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks, offering enhanced customer benefits.

“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,” said Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways’ group CEO.

“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,” Airlink chief executive Rodger Foster added.

Airlink serves over 45 destinations across 15 African countries, while Qatar Airways operates flights to 29 destinations across the continent. In addition to its investment in Airlink, Qatar Airways is discussing acquiring a minority stake in RwandAir. This follows a 2019 agreement with the Rwandan government, where Qatar Airways committed to acquiring a majority stake in a new international airport in Rwanda.

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