Qatar Airways has opened up a new gateway in Africa, connecting the DRC with Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The inaugural flight from Doha to Kinshasa landed at N’djili International Airport on Saturday, bringing the total number of African destinations served by the airline to 29.
Doha to Kinshasa
The new route promises to connect Kinshasa to the world via Qatar Airways’ Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the “World’s Best Airport” as voted by Skytrax in 2024.
Additionally, this strategic move by the airline will improve air connectivity across the African continent and will forge stronger economic and business prospects as well as cultural ties.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “At Qatar Airways, we recognise the immense potential in Africa. We are dedicated to enhancing connectivity throughout the continent, enabling seamless access to business and leisure opportunities. We look forward to offering our passengers travelling to and from the DRC convenient travel options through our award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport.”
The four weekly services will also increase capacity to Angola, raising the number of flights to Luanda from one to four. The addition of Kinshasa also complements the airline’s over 170 weekly flights across Africa, emphasising Qatar Airways’ commitment to enhancing connectivity throughout the continent.
There has been a strong growth in the market with nine (9) new destinations operated by Qatar Airways in Africa since December 2020. Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt are the African cities newly added to the extensive Qatar Airways network, while Cairo and Alexandria were resumed.
In addition, Qatar Airways schedules in most of the Africa markets have been optimised in the last 12 months to ensure convenient connectivity to China. It is also the case with Luanda, and now Kinshasa with this new flight that conveniently connects with key markets such as Belgium, France, Portugal and the Middle East.
Kinshasa, which is the capital of the DRC, is the third largest city in Africa, after Cairo and Lagos. Also serving as the economic hub of the country, Kinshasa presents different opportunities for investment and tourism. The bustling city, nestled along the Congo river, is also known for its cultural diversity, lively music scene and pristine nature; attracting both urban explorers and nature enthusiasts.
Flight schedule to Kinshasa:
- Every Monday and Saturday (all local time):
- Doha (DOH) to Kinshasa (FIH) – Flight No. QR1491
- Departure from (DOH) 02:45 – Arrival at (FIH) 08:10
- Kinshasa (FIH) to Doha (DOH) – Flight No. QR1491 via Luanda (LAD):
- Departure from (FIH) 09:40 – Arrival at (DOH) 22:50
Every Thursday and Friday (all local time):
- Doha (DOH) to Kinshasa (FIH) – Flight No. QR1489 via Luanda (LAD):
- Departure from (DOH) 09:20 –Arrival at (FIH) 18:25
- Kinshasa (FIH) to Doha (DOH) – Flight No. QR1489
- Departure from (FIH) 19:55 – Arrival at (DOH) 05:45+1
These are available for booking on www.qatarairways.com. Travellers can also choose from various Discover Qatar stopover packages. These include hotel accommodation, 24-hour check-in and can be tailored for add-on options including airport assistance, transfers, a range of tours and experiences including city and desert tours.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
