Published on October 21, 2025
Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have officially announced nan motorboat of codeshare flights linking nineteen world destinations, marking a important description successful aerial connectivity between Africa, nan Middle East, and Asia. The partnership, group to commence operations on October 26, 2025, enhances formation options between Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, fortifying some airlines’ positions arsenic awesome gateways for world travelers.
A Partnership to Strengthen Regional and Global Networks
Under nan caller agreement, Kenya Airways customers can now book nonstop codeshare flights from Nairobi to Doha, pinch easy connections to ten destinations across Asia and nan Middle East via Hamad International Airport.
Similarly, Qatar Airways passengers gain entree to eight destinations within Kenya Airways’ African network, supported by 3 regular flights betwixt Nairobi and Doha. This collaboration offers passengers accrued flexibility, much seamless transfers, and entree to a wider assortment of taste and business destinations.
Flight bookings opened on October 21, 2025, marking a milestone successful expanding entree betwixt immoderate of nan world’s fastest-growing recreation markets.
Expanding Access to Key African and Asian Destinations
Through nan agreement, Qatar Airways enriches its African web by connecting travelers from over 170 world destinations to cities served by Kenya Airways. These include Lilongwe (Malawi), Livingstone (Zambia), Juba (South Sudan), Nampula (Mozambique), Ndola (Zambia), and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).
Meanwhile, Kenya Airways passengers tin entree strategical hubs and leisure markets across ten countries successful Asia and nan Middle East, including Bahrain, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Islamabad and Karachi (Pakistan), Malé (Maldives), Singapore, and Tokyo Narita (Japan). These destinations are accessible via Hamad International Airport successful Doha, which has been named the “Best Airport successful nan Middle East” for eleven consecutive years, according to Skytrax rankings.
Enhancing Tourism and Economic Connectivity
This expanded codeshare is expected to greatly use the tourism and business ecosystems of some nations and their location partners. Kenya’s increasing domiciled arsenic a cardinal aerial gateway for Sub-Saharan Africa, coupled pinch Qatar’s strategical position arsenic a world aviation hub, provides seamless east–west connections for travelers seeking multi-destination tourism and business recreation opportunities.
The collaboration opens nan doorway for accrued inbound tourism to Kenya’s safari parks, coastal resorts, and taste practice attractions, while simultaneously promoting Doha’s luxury recreation sector through greater visitant entree from African cities.
Both airlines expect that nan statement will lend importantly to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) objectives of improving inter-regional connectivity and tourism-driven economical improvement crossed Africa and Asia.
Strengthening Airline Presence and Passenger Benefits
Qatar Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori emphasized that nan business builds upon nan airline’s expanding beingness successful Africa, driven by surging request for reliable connectivity. The hose precocious introduced its third regular work to Nairobi, reflecting nan beardown rider maturation from some leisure and firm segments.
Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu highlighted that this confederation enhances recreation convenience while positioning Nairobi and Doha arsenic dual connectivity hubs. By jointly operating routes and coordinating schedules, some airlines purpose to minimize layover times and grow rider options for long-haul travel.
Furthermore, Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will earn Avios when walking connected Kenya Airways-operated codeshare flights, while exploring broader opportunities done aligned loyalty benefits. This integration enhances marque synergy betwixt nan 2 carriers, delivering superior worth to predominant travelers.
Broader Collaboration Beyond Passenger Services
The business is besides designed to widen good beyond rider operations. Future phases of practice will include cargo services, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations (MRO), airport lounge management, joint sustainability initiatives, and procurement processes.
Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways are committed to processing co‑branded sustainability initiatives aimed astatine reducing c emissions crossed their networks and promoting environmentally responsible aviation. This aligns pinch some airlines’ semipermanent decarbonization strategies and the IATA biology model for sustainable aviation goals by 2050.
A Strategic Boost for African Aviation and Tourism
This confederation underscores Qatar Airways’ strategy to grow into caller African markets by leveraging mutually beneficial partnerships. Africa’s aviation marketplace has shown beardown post-pandemic recovery, pinch IATA projecting 5.8 percent yearly postulation growth through 2030.
For Kenya, nan statement represents a milestone successful positioning Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a premier continental hub connecting Africa to Asia and nan Middle East. With increased frequencies, multi-country connections, and integrated logistics, Kenya Airways strengthens its world floor plan and its domiciled wrong the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Tourism officials successful some Kenya and Qatar expect this improvement to drive visitor arrivals, trade growth, and aviation-related employment, reaffirming aerial carrier arsenic a pillar of nationalist economical diversification strategies.
Aviation’s Role successful Supporting Global Tourism
The codeshare description betwixt nan 2 airlines comes astatine a clip erstwhile tourism industries successful some regions are increasing rapidly. Kenya continues to pull visitors pinch its world-renowned safari parks, nan Maasai Mara, and coastal retreats successful Diani and Mombasa. Meanwhile, Qatar is gaining world nickname done awesome world events and attractions specified arsenic the Doha Corniche, Lusail Boulevard, and the National Museum of Qatar.
By bridging divers geographies, this inaugural serves not only to link cities but besides to unite tourism ecosystems, giving travelers entree to caller cultures done convenient routing.
Image Credit: Qatar Airways