Qatar Airways has been actively forging partnerships with various African airlines to enhance its connectivity and expand its network across the African continent. These strategic alliances aim to provide seamless travel experiences and greater choice for passengers, while also fostering collaboration in various aspects of airline operations.
Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways: A Growing Partnership
The partnership between Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways has been a significant development in strengthening ties between the Middle East and Africa. The expanded codeshare agreement allows Kenya Airways customers to fly between Nairobi and Doha, connecting onward to 10 key cities through Qatar Airways’ global network. Conversely, Qatar Airways passengers can now access eight destinations in Kenya Airways’ network via Nairobi, such as Lilongwe (LLW), Livingstone (LVI), Juba (JUB), Nampula (APL), Ndola (NLA), and Victoria Falls (VFA).
The codeshare flights allow passengers from more than 170 Qatar Airways destinations to access key African leisure and business markets served by Kenya Airways. These codeshare flights will be available for travel from 26 October 2025, with sales opening on 21 October.
Key Highlights of the Qatar Airways-Kenya Airways Partnership:
- Introduction of a third daily frequency between Doha and Nairobi in codeshare with Kenya Airways.
- Launch of Kenya Airways operated, and Qatar Airways marketed, flights between Mombasa and Doha during the coming winter season.
- Codesharing on both networks to offer seamless connections.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “This partnership is yet another demonstration of our deepening ties with the African region. Today’s agreement - which comes as we celebrate 20 years of flying to Kenya - is coupled with our recognisable record of partnerships across the continent, most recently through our investment in Airlink."
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Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka, said: “This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline’s robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways’ return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year. The partnership highlights two leading airlines collaborating to bring excellence to their global community of travellers."
Similarly, Kenya Airways passengers will now be able to connect to multiple destinations in 10 countries across Asia and the Middle East through Hamad International Airport, named the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years.
Both airlines plan to deepen cooperation beyond codeshares. Future areas include airport operations, lounges, sustainability initiatives, procurement, and cargo operations.
Kenya and Qatar's Growing Partnership: Economic and Diplomatic Strengthening
Qatar Airways and RwandAir: A Strategic Investment
In 2021, RwandAir and Qatar Airways signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement. Since then, the cooperation has expanded considerably with Qatar Airways announcing its intention to purchase a 49% stake in the Kigali-based carrier. The deal has been in the works since 2020.
Fouad Caunhye, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, was formerly Regional Manager for Southern Africa at Qatar Airways until he joined RwandAir in 2024. RwandAir’s current long-haul network is flown using its three Airbus A330 aircraft. It flies to three destinations - all in Europe - namely Brussels, Paris and London.
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RwandAir is also trying to avoid markets it deemed already “overcapacitated,” mainly higher-density population centers in Africa. “The issue is that everybody operates there,” Caunhye said. “The key issue with Mombasa and Zanzibar is ensuring that your inventory connects with a hub carrier. And we are a hub carrier. To maximise or optimise your revenue and your passenger loads."
Additional Partnerships
Qatar Airways also partners with other airlines to extend its reach:
- Airlink: South Africa’s leading airline based in Johannesburg.
- Royal Air Maroc: Morocco's largest airline based in Casablanca.
Qatar Airways - the only five-star global airline based in the Middle East and the reigning World’s Best Airline as voted by Skytrax in 2025 - offers over 170 weekly flights to 30 cities across Africa.
Airlines Partnering with Qatar Airways
| Airline | Base of Operations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airlink | Johannesburg, South Africa | Leading airline in South Africa |
| Royal Air Maroc | Casablanca, Morocco | Morocco's largest airline |
| RwandAir | Kigali, Rwanda | Flag carrier of Rwanda, with expanding cooperation including potential stake purchase by Qatar Airways. |
These partnerships highlight Qatar Airways' commitment to expanding its presence and providing enhanced travel options for passengers across Africa and beyond.
About Kenya Airways:
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Kenya Airways (KQ), The Pride of Africa, is a leading African carrier on a mission to propel Africa's prosperity by connecting its people, cultures, and markets. We fly to 45 destinations worldwide, 37 of which are in Africa, connecting over 5 million passengers and over 70,000 Tons of cargo annually through our Hub at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. As the sole African carrier in the SkyTeam Alliance, we open up a world of possibilities for our customers, connecting them to over 1,060 destinations in 173 countries. We take pride in offering a delightful flying experience with a caring African touch. Our exceptional African hospitality has consistently earned us global recognition including the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards where we were honoured with the Best Airline Staff and Best Airline Cabin Crew in Africa in 2024. At the heart of our commitment to providing unparalleled travel experiences is our extensive network of partner airlines.
