Qatar Airways has announced a significant expansion of its African network, with resumed routes, increased frequency, and a new destination set to launch in June and July 2026. The move strengthens the carrier’s footprint across the continent while improving connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia through its Doha hub at Hamad International Airport (DOH).
Resumed Flights and Additional Frequency Across Africa
The expansion includes the resumption of services to Seychelles and Kigali, as well as the return of daily flights to Marrakesh, Morocco.
Beginning June 16, 2026, Qatar Airways will restart four weekly flights to Seychelles and two weekly flights to Kigali, Rwanda. Meanwhile, daily services to Marrakesh will resume from July 1, 2026.
The airline is also increasing capacity on several existing African routes due to growing travel demand. Services to Alexandria will increase from three weekly flights to seven weekly flights, while flights to Cairo, Egypt, will rise from 28 to 35 weekly services.
Elsewhere on the continent, flights to Cape Town, South Africa, will increase from seven to ten weekly services, and routes to Dar es Salaam will expand from three weekly flights to daily operations.
Qatar Airways is also increasing frequency on southern African routes, including services connecting Lusaka and Harare, as well as flights between Maputo and Durban, both of which are rising to daily service.
New Port Sudan Service Launches in July
The airline will also launch three weekly flights to Port Sudan from July 2, 2026. The route will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, providing improved access between Sudan and international markets through Doha.
Passengers travelling from destinations including Oman and Pakistan will be able to connect through Hamad International Airport, strengthening regional connectivity and trade opportunities.
The new service will operate as follows:
- QR1319: Doha to Port Sudan – Departing 9 a.m. and arriving 11 a.m.
- QR1320: Port Sudan to Doha – Departing 12:25 p.m. and arriving 4:20 p.m.
Qatar Airways’ African expansion comes amid rising demand for travel between Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, as airlines continue rebuilding international networks following pandemic-era reductions. The move also increases competition with Gulf rivals Emirates and Etihad Airways, both of which have expanded their presence across the African market in recent years.
The expansion comes as Qatar Airways continues to rebuild and grow its global network, which now spans more than 160 destinations worldwide.
Qatar Airways’ latest African expansion highlights the airline’s continued investment in connectivity across the continent. By restoring suspended routes, increasing frequencies, and launching new services, the carrier aims to meet growing passenger demand while strengthening links between Africa and the wider world through Doha.
Passengers can book flights through the airline’s website or mobile application.
What do you think about Qatar Airways’ latest African expansion plans? Will increased connectivity encourage more travel across the continent? Let us know in the comments below.
