FlyNamibia unfazed by proposed Qatari airline
'A boon for air travel'
Qatar's national airline is keen on southern Africa.
FlyNamibia says it is unfazed about a proposed Qatari airline for southern Africa. Instead, the local carrier said the return of Qatar Airways will be a boon for air travel within Namibia and the subregion.
Market Watch engaged FlyNamibia managing director Andre Compion on the impact the proposed airline would have on his company's operations within the subregion. FlyNamibia currently offers services to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Cape Town, South Africa, from its hub at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, and is eyeing an entry into Luanda, Angola.
“Qatar is taking an equity stake in an existing airline. We are not concerned at all and hope that the move may lead to them resuming their flight to Windhoek,” he said.
Compion would further not be drawn into speculation regarding Qatar Airways’ possible takeover of FlyNamibia’s equity partner, Airlink, which is southern Africa’s largest airline by destinations flown, amid murmurs that it was looking to buy the South African airline.
“We honestly do not know. I am not aware of any such deal with Airlink. I have seen the speculations, but cannot confirm anything,” he said.
Coming soon
Qatar Airways will soon announce an investment in an airline in southern Africa, its CEO said last Wednesday, part of the Gulf carrier's drive to expand its network in Africa, Reuters reported.
"We are at the final stage of an equity investment in an airline in the southern part of Africa," Badr Mohammed Al Meer said on a panel at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, adding that the deal could be announced in two to three weeks.
Al Meer, who became CEO last November, said the southern part of Africa was a gap in Qatar Airways' network coverage on the continent.
He further highlighted that Qatar Airways wants to expand the fleets of its partner airlines in Africa to improve connectivity.
Market Watch engaged FlyNamibia managing director Andre Compion on the impact the proposed airline would have on his company's operations within the subregion. FlyNamibia currently offers services to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Cape Town, South Africa, from its hub at the Hosea Kutako International Airport, and is eyeing an entry into Luanda, Angola.
“Qatar is taking an equity stake in an existing airline. We are not concerned at all and hope that the move may lead to them resuming their flight to Windhoek,” he said.
Compion would further not be drawn into speculation regarding Qatar Airways’ possible takeover of FlyNamibia’s equity partner, Airlink, which is southern Africa’s largest airline by destinations flown, amid murmurs that it was looking to buy the South African airline.
“We honestly do not know. I am not aware of any such deal with Airlink. I have seen the speculations, but cannot confirm anything,” he said.
Coming soon
Qatar Airways will soon announce an investment in an airline in southern Africa, its CEO said last Wednesday, part of the Gulf carrier's drive to expand its network in Africa, Reuters reported.
"We are at the final stage of an equity investment in an airline in the southern part of Africa," Badr Mohammed Al Meer said on a panel at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, adding that the deal could be announced in two to three weeks.
Al Meer, who became CEO last November, said the southern part of Africa was a gap in Qatar Airways' network coverage on the continent.
He further highlighted that Qatar Airways wants to expand the fleets of its partner airlines in Africa to improve connectivity.
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