Qatar Airways said on Monday it was launching direct flights to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa in a bid to strengthen its ties with this mineral-rich East African country.
“Qatar Airways is expanding its network to include Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, and increasing the frequency of flights to Luanda, Angola,” the carrier said in a statement.
“This expansion provides more travel options within a key African region and facilitates international access from Africa to China, Europe and the Indian subcontinent, via Doha.
The addition of Kinshasa brings the number of African destinations served by the company to twenty-nine.
From June 1, 2024, Luanda will benefit from four weekly flights, including a combined service to Kinshasa, served for the first time by Qatar Airways.
These flights will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, offering 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class.
Thierry Antinori, Commercial Director of Qatar Airways, underlines the importance of this expansion in the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Africa.
“The addition of Kinshasa demonstrates our commitment to improving connectivity with Africa,” he says.
The announcement coincides with a period of intensified bilateral relations between Qatar and the DRC, marked by the visit of President Félix Tshisekedi to Doha in early March for high-level discussions, aimed at exploring investment opportunities and strengthening cooperation in the areas of trade, transport and civil aviation.
