Qatar Airways in talks to buy stake in S Africa’s Airlink

 

Qatar Airways is in talks to buy a stake in South Africa’s Airlink as the airline seeks to expand its presence on the continent, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The carrier is considering buying a stake of as much as 20 percent in Airlink.

The two sides have held detailed talks about an investment from Qatar Airways, which is wholly owned by the Qatari government, although no final deal has yet been reached, according to people familiar with the matter.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al Meer recently said that the carrier was “in the final stage” of investing in an airline in southern Africa.

At the Farnborough Airshow 2024 this week, he reiterated that the company was in talks with an airline in the region without identifying the target.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for the unprecedented eighth time at the 2024 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’.

As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was also recently voted the World’s Best Airline Websiteby World Travel Tech Awards.