Business Desk 
Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Southern Africa’s premier independent regional carrier, Airlink.
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.
The deal will bolster Qatar Airways’ Africa growth strategy and cement its role as a key driver to the continent’s economic success.
On the announcement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said:
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.”
Airlink Chief Executive, Rodger Foster, said: “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.
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.
