Qatar Airways Acquires 25% Stake in Airlink

Qatar Airways has acquired a 25% stake in South African regional carrier Airlink, enhancing its strategy to expand operations in Africa. This investment aims to provide efficiencies of scale, increase capacity, and strengthen Airlink's existing partnerships while aligning loyalty programs between the two airlines. Qatar Airways' Group CEO, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, emphasized the strategic importance of Africa to their business and expressed confidence in Airlink's resilience and growth potential. Airlink, which operates over 45 destinations across 15 African countries, reported transporting 3.7 million passengers in 2023, marking a 23% increase from the previous year. The partnership is expected to bolster Airlink's capabilities and support economic growth across the continent. This move comes amidst Qatar Airways' ongoing efforts to solidify its presence in Africa, including its recent interest in acquiring a 49% stake in RwandAir.