Airlink Expands Global Reach with Doha Codeshare Launch
South African regional airline Airlink is set to take a major step into the long-haul market from 31 August 2026, when it begins marketing flights to Doha through an expanded codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways.
The agreement will make Doha Airlink’s first long-haul destination, significantly expanding the airline’s international reach and giving its customers access to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network through Hamad International Airport.
Three South African gateways
Under the expanded agreement, Airlink will place its 4Z flight code on Qatar Airways-operated services connecting Doha with Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The schedule includes:
- Johannesburg–Doha: Two daily services
- Cape Town–Doha: Up to 10 services per week
- Durban–Doha: Daily service, operating via Maputo
The flights will be operated by Qatar Airways using Airbus A350 aircraft, while Airlink customers will be able to book the services under the Airlink code.
Gateway to Qatar Airways’ global network
The importance of the agreement extends beyond Doha itself. Passengers travelling from South Africa will be able to connect through Hamad International Airport to destinations across Qatar Airways’ international network.
For Airlink, the arrangement provides an opportunity to offer its customers a much broader range of international connections without having to operate its own long-haul aircraft.
Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht described the codeshare as an important element of the airline’s strategy to expand its network and market reach, saying the partnership would leverage Qatar Airways’ global presence to create greater connectivity for Airlink customers.
Building on a growing partnership
The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two airlines. Qatar Airways and Airlink established their codeshare relationship in 2022, allowing Qatar Airways to place its QR code on selected Airlink domestic and regional flights.
Qatar Airways subsequently acquired a 25% minority stake in Airlink in 2024, further strengthening the relationship between the two carriers.
The expanded codeshare is expected to grow further, with additional destinations across Qatar Airways’ network potentially being added in the coming months.
A significant development for South African aviation
The Doha expansion represents a significant development for Airlink as it continues to evolve from a primarily regional carrier into an airline with broader international connectivity.
For South African travellers, the agreement could make destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and beyond more accessible through a single airline partnership and Qatar Airways’ Doha hub.
With the first services under the expanded agreement scheduled to begin on 31 August, Airlink’s Doha move marks a new chapter in the airline’s network strategy and strengthens South Africa’s connectivity with one of the world’s major aviation hubs.
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