Qatar Airways Acquires 25% of African Airline Airlink
Skift Take
Key Points
- Qatar Airways acquires 25% stake in South African regional airline Airlink.
- The deal enhances an existing code-sharing partnership and supports Qatar Airways' Africa growth strategy.
- Investment expected to increase Airlink's capacity, market reach, and operational efficiencies.
Summary
Qatar Airways has acquired a 25% equity stake in South African regional airline Airlink. This deal expands on their existing code-sharing partnership and supports Qatar Airways' broader Africa growth strategy. It follows Qatar Airways' other investments in airlines such as British Airways owner IAG, Latam Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. The partnership is expected to enhance Airlink's capacity, market reach, and operational efficiencies, while aligning their loyalty programs.
The Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% equity holding in one of Africa’s largest regional airlines. On Tuesday, the Doha-based company confirmed the stake in Johannesburg-based Airlink.
The carrier’s primary focus is South Africa, but its route network stretches into 14 other African nations. More than 45 destinations are served by Airlink on a scheduled and charter basis. The company describes itself as a “premium, full-service regional airline.”
The deal builds on an existing code-sharing partnership between the companies. This allows passengers from both airlines to connect more easily between flights.
In a statement, Qatar Airways described the deal as a further example of its “Africa growth strategy,” adding that it will “cement its role as a key driver to the continent’s economic success.”
The Qatari carrier said in 2020 that it planned to buy a 49% stake in state-owned RwandAir, the national airline of Rwanda. However, four years later, the formal contract has yet to be signed. Speaking to Skift earlier this year, RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo said progress was being made towards the closing of the deal.
A new airport serving the Rwandan capital Kigali, largely funded by Qatar Airways, is also under construction and expected to open in the next two or three years.
More broadly, Qatar Airways owns 20% of British Airways owner IAG, 10% of South American carrier Latam Airlines and almost 10% of Cathay Pacific.
What Have the Airline CEOs Said?
On the Airlink announcement, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group CEO, said the investment demonstrated confidence in the regional airline and also Africa as a whole. Al-Meer said the continent is “showing huge potential that I am delighted we are able to help start realizing.”
For his part, Airlink CEO Rodger Foster added: “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.”
Although further details were not immediately available, the companies said they will work together to align individual loyalty programs. Qatar Airways operates its Avios-backed Privilege Club, while Airlink’s platform is called Skybucks.
In addition to investments across the continent, Qatar Airways flies to 29 destinations across Africa.
Airlines Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date
What am I looking at? The performance of airline sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies.
The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more airlines sector financial performance.
Photo Credit: Qatar Airways already has a series of investments in Africa. Qatar Airways / Qatar Airways
Up Next
The State of Corporate Travel and Expense 2025
What Are the Travel Industry’s Biggest Challenges Going Into 2025?
Carnival Heads Into 2025 With Record Bookings at Higher Prices
Expedia Taps Former Ebay Interim CEO Scott Schenkel as Chief Financial Officer
