Qatar Airways Adds Airlink To Its African Codeshare Network

The #Doha-based airline recently signed a codeshare arrangement with Airlink of South #Africa as the latest step in its relentless pursuit of #growth and #development. Let's examine the implications of this agreement for the two carriers concerned.

By establishing a new codeshare deal with Airlink of South Africa, #Qatar Airways has announced the most recent in a string of alliances with other airlines. The new partnership represents the next phase in Qatar's expansion and is a strategic decision that will improve the options for passengers to connect at its three gateways in southern Africa.

This new agreement is probably a win-win situation for all parties involved, including the airlines engaged and the passengers, as it would enable travellers to connect easily between 45 destinations in 13 countries around southern Africa and the rest of the world.

According to Qatar Airways, the new partnership will give customers of the two airlines additional options, improved services, and improved connectivity between the city pairs that are now connected via codesharing.

Airlink's flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban will use the larger carrier's "QR" flight code. A streamlined check-in, boarding, and baggage check experience will be available to all passengers flying under the codeshare arrangement, allowing them to easily book connecting flights on both airlines using a single reservation.

Currently, Qatar Airways provides four weekly flights to Durban, ten weekly flights to Cape Town, and 21 direct weekly flights from Doha to Johannesburg. Under the new codeshare arrangement with Airlink, visitors from South Africa may quickly and conveniently connect to locations on six other continents via Doha's Hamad International Airport, which was recently named the 'World's Best Airport' by Skytrax.

According to the carrier based in Qatar, popular routes will be connected under the new agreement between the three South African cities and popular Qatar Airways destinations like New York and Dallas, cities in Europe like London, Copenhagen, and Barcelona, and points in Asia like Manila, Jakarta, and Cebu.

With expanded access to places like Ggeberha (Port Elizabeth), Hoedspruit, Skukuza, and George in South Africa, as well as beyond to nations like Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, the deal with Airlink expands Qatar Airways' reach across southern Africa. The new codeshare flights are already available for purchase; subject to regulatory approval, codeshare services will start on July 6, 2022.

Akbar al-Baker, the chief executive of Qatar Airways Group, announced the new commercial agreement that the two airlines had struck and added, "By adding Airlink to our network, we are able to give our customers more flight options and destination options, which we believe will hasten the return of travel, which is so vital to the economies of southern Africa. Since the epidemic began, we have increased our presence in the African market by adding eight new locations and fostering partnerships like this exciting one with Airlink, which will significantly improve our ability to serve our clients and promote travel and trade."

Airlink CEO Rodger Foster commented on the recently concluded agreement between his company and Qatar Airways as follows: "This growth is a support for Airlink's significance in offering air access to the entire region through our extensive network of destinations, which when combined with Qatar Airways' worldwide reach delivers unmatched connectivity options. Leading airline in southern Africa, Airlink offers thorough, safe, and dependable air transportation services, promoting trade throughout the area and beyond and fostering socio-economic development."

Qatar Airways looks to be pleased with its expansion in recent years, particularly in southern Africa. The airline was the only one to continue flying in southern Africa throughout the pandemic and in the days that followed, facilitating the transportation of supplies, life-saving medications, and other necessities between the continent and the rest of the world.

The only airline to begin operating to Luanda, Harare, and Lusaka after the pandemic was Qatar Airways, which began operations there last year. This month, it will restart service to Windhoek, adding another entry point to Airlink's broad regional network through eight regional gateways.

According to the airline, this made it possible for people to return home to be with their families, go back to work, and help the area recover from the pandemic. Since severing ties with the country's flag carrier, South African Airways, Airlink has grown into a significant power in its own right throughout southern Africa. The airline describes itself as a privately-owned, full-service, premium regional airline operating to a wide range of locations across Southern Africa.

With a fleet of about 50 aircraft flying under the 4Z flight code, the airline serves more than 45 locations in 13 African states, as well as St Helena Island in the South Atlantic. With an on-time performance typically better than 95%, Airlink claims to be the most punctual Southern African airline.

The following aircraft types make up the active Airlink fleet, according to ch-aviation:

Jetstream 41 BAe (2)

Boeing EMB-135LR (15)

EMB-140LR Embrarer (11)

EMB-170-100LR Embraer (2)

EMB-190-100AR Embraer (16)

As the pandemic recedes into memory and the desire to travel again increases, Qatar Airways continues to deliver on its promise to serve more nations and city pairings. The reintroduction of a sixth daily flight between Doha and London's Heathrow Airport beginning in mid-July was just just announced by the airline.

Additionally, the airline recently celebrated its most prosperous year ever. The Group recently achieved a record annual profit of $1.54 billion, the best performance in its 25-year history, despite all the difficulties associated with conducting business in the post-COVID climate.

In fact, this number was more than 200 percent greater than the previous best year, demonstrating the airline's efforts to remain profitable even through the worst of the post-pandemic pandemonium. Due to its agility and effective focus on customer needs, Qatar Airways attributes its good performance to these factors.

Everything seems to be going well for the Qatar-based mega-carrier with new aircraft continuing to enter its fleet, a growing network, new codeshares launching, and perhaps even the possibility of discussions in the protracted legal fight with Airbus.

In the airline's Doha offices, confidence for the future must be at an all-time high given that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup later this year.