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- Qatar Airways, by some estimates the world’s largest airline, has entered a society with Airlink from South Africa.
- The private company Airlink has been associated with SAA for more than 20 years, which came to an abrupt halt earlier this year.
- Qatar’s agreement with Airlink will allow passengers to book connecting flights through one of the airlines.
- For more stories, visit Business Insider South Africa.
Qatar Airways, by some estimates the world’s largest airline, has partnered with local airline Airlink.
The private company Airlink was associated with SAA for more than 20 years, an agreement that allowed SAA to sell tickets and carry passengers on Airlink flights.
But earlier this year, Airlink terminated its franchise agreement after SAA jumped to the commercial rescue and paid no more than R700 million in ticket revenue issued on flights operated by Airlink.
See also | EXPLANATOR: How SAA landed in such a mess
Qatar’s so-called “interline agreement” with Airlink will allow passengers to book connecting flights through either carrier. Travelers will not have to book connecting flights separately.
An interconnection agreement also usually means that the airlines will handle the check-in and luggage of each other’s passengers, so you only need to check in once for connecting flights on either airline.
The airlines said the deal will provide Qatari passengers from around the world seamless connectivity via Cape Town and Johannesburg to Airlink’s more than 20 regional destinations in South Africa, including Gaborone, Maun, Tete, Port Elizabeth, Lusaka, Harare and Victoria Falls.
“We are confident that the relationship will offer better travel options to customers given the designed interconnectivity that will be enabled at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport,” says Rodger Foster, CEO of Airlink.
Qatar Airways Vice President for Africa Hendrik du Preez said the global airline is “delighted to sign this interline agreement with Airlink to further expand our network in the region connecting passengers to more than 25 domestic destinations and more than 20 regional “.
“With the borders in South Africa closed for five months, we are delighted to re-enter the market with additional connections in South Africa and beyond,” added Du Preez.
South Africa closed its borders in March, as part of its blockade to fight Covid-19 in the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the reopening of South Africa’s borders for leisure travelers in mid-September.
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