NEWS that Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Airlink, shows air travel on the Continent continues to grow.
A sign of confidence by an international player, this will bolster confidence that Africa should be taken serious on aviation business.
The deal will bolster Qatar Airways’ Africa growth strategy and cement its role as a key driver to the continent’s economic success.
As a results various commentators within the aviation sector have given the deal a thumps up.
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.
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 realising.”
The partnership between Qatar Airways and Airlink seeks to align both carriers’ loyalty programs – Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks.
“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,” commented Airlink chief executive, Rodger Foster, at the announcement in Qatar.
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 newly added to the extensive Qatar Airways network, while Cairo and Alexandria were resumed.
For Airlink this argues well for Africa and SA, in that tourists will now have more choices to consider to travel, with numbers expected to increase especially with festive season approaching.
This is a vote of confidence to the African market, by one of the world’s leading airlines.
Image supplied (Qatar Airways group chief executive officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer and Airlink chief executive, Rodger Foster, at the announcement in Qatar.
