Qatar Inks Codeshare Deal With Airlink To Increase Connectivity in Africa

Doha-based Qatar Airways has announced a codeshare agreement with Airlink, a South African carrier.

Here’s what you need to know about the deal.

Qatar’s Codeshare Agreement With Airlink

The deal offers travelers better connectivity, Qatar says, to 45 destinations in 13 countries across southern Africa and the rest of the world.

The agreement means Qatar Airways and Airlink passengers can enjoy reciprocal benefits, including:

• Purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using a single reservation
• Seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding, and baggage check

This codeshare agreement gives travelers in southern Africa easier access to Qatar’s vast route network, which includes numerous destinations around the world including New York, London, Manila, and many more.

Qatar also says the agreement increases the airline’s footprint in southern Africa, giving inbound travelers more access to popular destinations in South Africa, as well as Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. 

Travelers can book flights with either airline, online travel agencies (OTAs), and travel agents.

“Expanding our network with Airlink gives our customers more choice of destinations and flights, that we hope will contribute to the rapid recovery of travel, which plays such an important role in southern African economies,” Qatar CEO Akbar al Baker said in a statement.

“We have boosted our presence in the African market by adding eight new destinations since the start of the pandemic and fostering partnerships such as this dynamic agreement with Airlink, which will greatly enhance our offering to our customers and support travel and trade,” the statement continued.

The codeshare flights are on sale now and — subject to government approval — are scheduled to begin on July 6, 2022.

Qatar currently flies to more than 150 destinations across the globe, and the airline is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.

The airline already offers nearly 2 dozen weekly nonstop flights from Doha (DOH) to Johannesburg (JNB), 10 weekly flights to Cape Town (CPT) and 4 weekly flights to Durban (DUR). 

The Johannesburg (JNB)-based Airlink, founded in 1992, serves more than 45 destinations in 13 African countries with a fleet of 50 jets.

Hot Tip: Check out our detailed guide to flying Qatar Airways, including how to fly one of the world’s best business class seats using points and miles!

Final Thoughts

While it’s still subject to regulatory approval, travelers looking for a less complicated way to travel to Southern Africa should be excited by this new codeshare agreement. Qatar is notable for being the only carrier to launch new flights in southern Africa amid the pandemic, so it’s clear that the airline is establishing itself as a major player in the region.