Qatar Airways Expands African Network with New Routes, Boosted Frequencies and Port Sudan Launch
Qatar Airways has unveiled an ambitious expansion across its African network, signalling renewed confidence in the continent's aviation potential and offering fresh opportunities for tourism stakeholders across sub-Saharan Africa. The airline's latest schedule adjustments, set to roll out from mid-June through early July, will significantly enhance connectivity between key African destinations and the carrier's global hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
From 16 June, the carrier will reinstate four weekly flights to Seychelles (SEZ) and two weekly services to Kigali (KGL), two destinations of growing strategic importance for both leisure and business travel. The Seychelles route resumption is particularly timely, given the island nation's ongoing Golden Jubilee celebrations and its renewed push to attract international visitors. Rwanda's capital, meanwhile, continues to cement its reputation as a regional hub for conferences, MICE tourism and gateway access to East African safari circuits.
Adding to this momentum, Qatar Airways will launch a daily service to Marrakesh (RAK) from 1 July, reinforcing North Africa's appeal as a year-round leisure destination. The increased frequency to Morocco's cultural capital opens new possibilities for African operators packaging multi-destination itineraries that combine sub-Saharan and North African experiences.
Several existing African routes will also see substantial frequency boosts. Egypt remains a strong focus, with Alexandria (HBE) climbing from three to as many as seven weekly flights, while Cairo (CAI) moves from 28 to up to 35 weekly services. The South African corridor receives notable attention as well, with Cape Town (CPT) expanding from seven to up to ten weekly flights, reflecting the city's enduring popularity among long-haul travellers.
East Africa is equally well-served, with Dar es Salaam (DAR) doubling from three to up to seven weekly flights, providing improved access to Tanzania's coastal and safari attractions. The combined Lusaka–Harare service will rise from five to up to seven weekly flights, while the Maputo–Durban routing expands from four to up to seven, strengthening Southern Africa's connectivity to Asian and Middle Eastern source markets.
Perhaps the most strategically significant announcement is the launch of a brand-new service to Port Sudan (PZU), commencing 2 July with three weekly flights. The Red Sea coastal city has emerged as a critical access point following recent regional disruptions, and the new route is designed to serve passengers travelling from key Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets, including Oman and Pakistan. Travellers will be able to transfer seamlessly through Doha's Hamad International Airport.
The Port Sudan service will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Flight QR1319 will depart Doha at 09:00, arriving in Port Sudan at 11:00, while the return service QR1320 will leave Port Sudan at 12:25 and touch down in Doha at 16:20. The schedule has been crafted to facilitate efficient onward connections across the carrier's vast global network.
For African tourism professionals, this expanded footprint presents tangible commercial opportunities. Greater seat capacity into key gateways translates into more flexibility when designing inbound packages, more competitive airfare options for clients, and stronger potential for two-way traffic between Africa and the Gulf, Asia and beyond. As global airlines continue to deepen their commitment to African markets, the coming years are likely to bring even more aggressive route development, with carriers competing to capture a share of the continent's rising middle-class travel demand.
Industry players would do well to align their product offerings with these new schedules, ensuring that itineraries, ground services and partner agreements are positioned to take full advantage of the enhanced access Qatar Airways is now bringing to the African continent.
