Qatar Airways is expanding its operations in Africa with an increase in flight frequency to Entebbe, in Uganda, by an additional three flights a week to meet summer demand.
According to the airlines, from August 1 to September 30, its carrier will move from a daily service to operate 11 weekly flights between Doha and Entebbe.
The increased flight frequency is part of Qatar Airways’ aim to improve air connectivity across Africa and forge stronger economic, business and cultural ties, the airlines said.
Qatar Airways Vice President – Africa, Hendrik du Preez, added that the increased frequency now guarantees improved connectivity for passengers travelling from Uganda to the USA, Asia, Europe and North Africa.
Du Preez said it also supports the growth of trade and tourism between Uganda and Qatar while offering convenience for point-to-point passengers to save a day’s travel due to the early arrival in Doha.
“With 18 per cent of the world’s population and making up less than two per cent of air transport activity, Africa is an untapped market with increasing travel and business opportunities,” he said.
“We are expanding connectivity throughout the continent by increasing the number of destinations we serve, and the frequencies we offer, and through partnerships with African airlines.”
Du Preez explained that the increase in Entebbe flights is indicative of Qatar Airways’ dedication to the Ugandan market, and is set to boost the growth of Uganda’s exports.
He stated that the additional flights follow the introduction of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in the Qatar Airways network of more than 170 global destinations.
The new route connects the DRC with the Middle East, Europe and Asia like never before. Kinshasa is served with four weekly flights that have also added capacity to Angola, with the number of flights to Luanda increasing from one to four.
Kinshasa joins a growing list of new Qatar Airways destinations in Africa since December 2020, which include Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt. Flights to Alexandria and Cairo have also been resumed.
Qatar Airways currently offers 180 flights per week to various destinations across Africa. When codeshare partners are included, the number expands to over 900 weekly flights across the continent.
With 30 interline agreements – of which five are codeshares with African airlines, as well as strategic investment in Kigali’s new international airport, Qatar Airways is demonstrating its long-term commitment to Africa and the expansion of air travel and related infrastructure.
