Qatar expands its Africa routes connectivity

Qatar Airways is ramping up its global network this year, expanding services to more than 150 destinations worldwide from 16 June 2026, with Cape Town remaining firmly on its African map. 

The updated schedule strengthens connections between Doha and 25 African destinations, including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, while also introducing new and resumed routes, including Kinshasa and Luanda from 16 May, Port Harcourt from 1 May, and Alexandria, Marrakesh and Seychelles from 16 June. 

For Cape Town travellers, it means more options into Europe, Asia and the Middle East via Doha at a time when long-haul connectivity is becoming increasingly competitive.

The expansion comes despite ongoing operational pressures linked to instability in the Middle East. Like several major Gulf carriers, Qatar Airways has had to navigate partial airspace restrictions and reroute flights across parts of the region due to the ongoing conflict, which has affected flight paths, scheduling, and capacity planning. The latest schedule update signals a push toward network stability ahead of the northern hemisphere summer, while providing passengers with more certainty about winter travel from South Africa.

The move also adds to a broader surge in international air access for Cape Town. Recently, Emirates and Wesgro signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost inbound tourism to the Western Cape, targeting key source markets across the Gulf, India and the Far East. The partnership coincides with Emirates’ plans to introduce a third daily flight between Dubai and Cape Town using its new Airbus A350, adding major capacity on one of the city’s busiest long-haul routes.

Earlier this year, the Air France-KLM Group also signed a strategic agreement with Cape Town Tourism to strengthen international promotion from European markets.

Together, these moves point to Cape Town strengthening its position as one of Africa’s most connected international gateways -  with expanded Gulf connections, stronger European links and increased long-haul capacity.