The CEO of Qatar Airways, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, announced that the Doha-based airline will reveal its investment in a southern African carrier "in two to three weeks."
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha from May 14th to 16th, Badr Mohammed Al Meer mentioned that Qatar Airways currently has a weak network in Africa, particularly in central and southern regions. "The last piece of the equation is southern Africa. We havent announced this yet, but we are in the final stage of an equity investment in an airline in the southern part of Africa," he stated, adding that "this airline will complement the operation of Kigali as a hub." When asked if the target airline is state-owned, he responded, "you will find out."
In southern Africa, Qatar Airways has codeshare agreements with airlines like Rwandair, Air Botswana, and Airlink. The agreement with Airlink, established in June 2022, provides connectivity across over twelve countries and nearly fifty destinations.
While South African Airways, recovering from a series of corruption allegations, is also considered a potential target, reports indicate that Qatar Airways inquired with the government of Botswana in early 2024 about the viability of the struggling Air Botswana and requested more details about its aircraft.
Almost three months ago, Finance Minister Peggy Serame noted that Air Botswana "is going through a process of identifying a strategic partner in preparation for privatization."
Due to financial and credibility challenges, Air Botswana embarked on a three-year strategic recovery plan from 2021 to 2024. The plan focuses on financial sustainability, increasing cargo operations, achieving operational excellence, and diversifying revenue streams. The airline is still being considered for privatization.
