Qatar Airways buys stake in SA’s Airlink

Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways announced on Tuesday that it acquired a 25% stake in local and regional carrier Airlink.

The deal marks the first direct foreign investment into a South African airline since FlySafair launched operations a decade ago under Irish parent ASL.

Airlink presently operates the largest network in South Africa with 45 network points across 15 markets.

An African future

In a statement, Qatar Airways said that the equity acquisition in Airlink signals its ambition to further its interests in Africa.

Qatar Airways Group CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said the investment showed how important Africa was in its plans for the future.

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“This partnership not only demonstrates our confidence in Airlink, as a company that is resilient, agile, financially robust and governed on sound principles but also in Africa as a whole, showing the huge potential that I am delighted we are able to help start realising,” he said.

New horizons

Airlink Chief Executive Rodger Foster said the deal would increase opportunities and reach.

“This transaction will unlock growth by providing efficiencies of scale, increasing our capacity and expanding our marketing reach.

“By bolstering Airlink and its business, this investment will strengthen all existing airline partnerships Airlink has nurtured over the years.”

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Rewards and rumours

The partnership between Qatar Airways and Airlink will also align both carriers’ loyalty programs Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks.

The acquisition also negates rumour mongering earlier this year that SAA was in talks with Qatar Airways to replace Takatso as strategic equity partner after former Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s controversial deal fell flat.

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