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, 1 June 2024, bringing the total number of African destinations served by the airline to 29.

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 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.