Summer 2026 network expansion strengthens Qatar Airways connectivity across Africa and the Middle East
(IN SHORT) Qatar Airways is expanding its African route network with resumed services, additional flight frequencies and a new destination launch for Summer 2026. The airline will restart flights to Seychelles, Kigali and Marrakesh while increasing operations to cities including Cairo, Cape Town and Dar es Salaam. Qatar Airways will also begin three weekly flights to Port Sudan from July 2026, strengthening connectivity between Africa, the Middle East and Asia through Doha’s Hamad International Airport. The expansion forms part of the airline’s broader strategy to enhance global travel and trade connectivity.
(PRESS RELEASE) DOHA, Qatar, 2026-May-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways has announced a major expansion of its African operations for Summer 2026, including new route launches, resumed services and increased flight frequencies across several destinations on the continent.
The airline said the network expansion will begin from 16 June 2026 and is aimed at strengthening connectivity between Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the rest of the carrier’s global route network through Hamad International Airport.
As part of the expansion, Qatar Airways will resume four weekly flights to Seychelles and two weekly flights to Kigali beginning 16 June. The airline will also restore daily operations to Marrakesh from 1 July 2026.
In addition to route resumptions, the airline is significantly increasing frequencies to several African destinations. Services between Alexandria and Doha will rise from three weekly flights to as many as seven, while flights to Cairo will increase from 28 to 35 weekly services.
Flights to Cape Town will expand from seven to ten weekly operations, while services to Dar es Salaam will increase from three to seven weekly flights. The airline is also boosting frequencies on regional African connections including Lusaka–Harare and Maputo–Durban routes, both increasing to daily service.
A key addition to the network will be the launch of three weekly flights to Port Sudan beginning 2 July 2026. The airline said the new route is intended to improve travel connections between Sudan and important markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Oman and Pakistan.
The new Port Sudan service will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with outbound flights departing Doha at 09:00 and arriving in Port Sudan at 11:00. Return flights will depart Port Sudan at 12:25 and arrive back in Doha at 16:20.
Qatar Airways said the latest expansion reflects its strategy of rebuilding and strengthening global connectivity while balancing growth with rising demand for passenger travel and trade links. The airline currently serves more than 160 destinations worldwide.
About Qatar Airways
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ title for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the 13th time.
Qatar Airways recently received the Platinum performance recognition by Cirium, the leading aviation analytics organisation, for its reliability and operational performance. The recognition is a testament to the airline’s unwavering commitment to providing seamless and proven operations as part of its award-winning passenger experience.
This summer, Qatar Airways will fly to over 160 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The airport has been recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
For further information, visit qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile app.
Media contact:
Qatar Airways Group
For media enquiries, please email:
qrmedia(at)qatarairways.com.qa
SOURCE: Qatar Airways
