Qatar Airways is increasing its presence in South Africa, strengthening the country’s connection to its global network and offering travellers more flexibility across key cities.
From 17 February, the airline will operate 14 weekly flights to Cape Town, up from 12. Johannesburg will gain three additional flights, while Durban will receive two more from early March. In total, this expansion adds seven new weekly services across South Africa.
The move follows a busy year for Qatar Airways across the African continent. The airline has deepened its regional presence through partnerships with Air Algérie, Kenya Airways and RwandAir, alongside a strategic investment in South Africa’s Airlink, acquiring a 25 percent stake in October 2024.
Beyond passenger travel, Qatar Airways continues to expand its role in African trade. Through a combination of passenger aircraft and dedicated freighters, the airline transports more than 6,000 tonnes of cargo each week to and from Africa. Key sectors supported include fresh produce, horticulture and textiles, reinforcing the airline’s importance to regional supply chains.
For travellers, the increased flight frequency brings greater schedule choice and smoother connections through Doha to over 170 destinations worldwide. The expansion also enhances the onboard experience, with selected African routes now offering free Starlink Wi-Fi on A350 aircraft. Boeing 787 Dreamliners are set to follow, making high speed connectivity available to passengers in all cabin classes.
As air travel across the continent continues to grow, Qatar Airways’ expanded footprint reflects a wider shift toward stronger global access, improved infrastructure and deeper commercial ties between Africa and the rest of the world.
