Qatar Airways will take a 25% stake in South Africa-based regional carrier Airlink as both airlines seek to boost services and passenger numbers across Africa.
According to Reuters, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer, speaking alongside Airlink’s CEO Rodger Foster in Doha, told reporters the investment would boost Qatar Airways’ access to passengers in regional cities in Africa.
Foster said it would allow privately owned Airlink to expand in Africa and eventually to operate larger aircraft on one or two routes. It would not expand beyond Africa, he said.
The report noted that Airlink is currently owned by Foster’s family, South Africa’s Webb family and institutional investors Coronation Global and Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust.
With a 25% equity stake in Airlink, Qatar Airways will take the maximum foreign ownership share that South African regulators allow for airlines, Foster said.
Qatar Airways will gain two seats on Airlink’s 14-member board and will have 25% shareholder voting rights, Foster told Reuters.
State-owned Qatar Airways holds stakes in British Airways-owner International Airlines Group, Latam Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, and China Southern Airlines.
