Qatar Airways is on the verge of announcing an investment in a southern African airline, according to its CEO. This move aligns with the Gulf carrier’s strategy to enhance its network across Africa.
A Qatar Airways B777 aircraft was photographed arriving at Cape Town International Airport in South Africa on June 28, 2022. (Reuters/Shelley Christians/File Photo)
“We are at the final stage of an equity investment in an airline in the southern part of Africa,” CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer stated during a panel at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 15. He indicated that the deal could be revealed in the next two to three weeks.
Al Meer, who took on the CEO role in November, noted that southern Africa represents a significant gap in Qatar Airways’ African network. He also emphasized the airline’s intention to expand the fleets of its partner airlines in Africa to enhance connectivity.
In 2019, Qatar Airways acquired a 60% stake in a new $1.3 billion international airport under construction in Rwanda and has established codeshare agreements with several African airlines, including Rwandair.
Rwandair CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo, speaking in Doha, mentioned that the new airport could be operational around 2027-2028.
