Qatar Airways has acquired a 25% equity stake in South African airline Airlink, one of Africa’s largest carriers.
The deal, which was signed on August 20, 2024, in Doha, builds upon years of collaboration between the two airlines, which already codeshare some of their flights.
After this equity investment, the two airlines are expected to strengthen their partnership, enhancing the connectivity between their respective networks, cooperating in the commercial sphere and linking their respective loyalty programs.
As of August 2024, Airlink operates an all-Embraer fleet of more than 60 aircraft, which comprise pretty much all types of commercial jet made by the Brazilian manufacturer, from 37-seaters ERJ-135 to the E-195, which can carry more than 100 passengers.
The Qatari flag carrier will also gain two seats on the board of Airlink, although it will remain a minority, non-controlling shareholder, explained Airlink CEO, Rodger Foster during an interview with a South African news network shortly after the signing ceremony.
With this move, Qatar Airways also highlighted its commitment to the African market, a continent where it already flies to 29 destinations. It is expected that the Airlink tie-up will contribute to boosting links between the Doha hub and additional markets in South and East Africa, where Airlink is strong.
Airlink CEO Rodger Foster: “There needs to be some rationalization” in African aviation
AeroTime’s Africa Correspondent Michael Jonga spoke with Airlink’s Rodger Foster during AviaDev 2024, a conference dedicated to the present and future of the African commercial aviation industry, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia, in June 2024.
In the interview Foster highlighted the need for more consolidation in the African aviation industry and ruled out any expansion in the long-haul market in the foreseeable future. The airline executive explained that Airlink is providing global reach through its alliances with global carriers and was focused on providing more frequencies in the markets where it already has a presence. This way, Foster said, it is possible to offer much better connectivity.
Foster also remarked that Airlink remains an “alliance-agnostic” carrier and that partnerships currently in place with some 36 different airlines (six of which are codeshare relationships, with the other 30 being interline agreements) are, in principle, going to remain in place.