Qatar Airways has acquired a 25% stake in South African airline Airlink. Airlink, which services over 45 destinations across 15 African countries, will benefit from this partnership through increased capacity, marketing reach, and operational efficiencies.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al Meer highlighted the confidence this investment shows not only in Airlink but also in Africa’s growing potential. He stated that this partnership demonstrates confidence in Airlink as a resilient, financially strong, and managed airline and in Africa as a whole.
Qatar Airways has been rapidly expanding its African network, now flying to 29 destinations on the continent. Recent additions to its African routes include major cities such as Abidjan, Abuja, and Luanda, with a resurgence of flights to Cairo and Alexandria.
The investment in Airlink comes from Qatar Airways’ record-breaking financial performance. The airline reported a 39% increase in profits for the 2023/24 fiscal year, reaching an all-time high of 6.1 billion Qatari riyals ($1.7 billion), alongside a 6% rise in revenue to 81 billion riyals ($22.2 billion).