Qatar Airways to Add Seven Weekly Flights to South Africa

Qatar Airways is set to significantly expand its South African network in early 2026, adding 7 extra weekly flights to the country. The increase will lift the carrier’s total South Africa capacity from 35 to 42 weekly services, reinforcing the airline’s long-term commitment to the market and underlining growing demand for travel between Southern Africa and the rest of the world via Doha.

The expanded schedule will be phased in from mid-February to early March 2026 and will see additional frequencies added to Johannesburg and Cape Town, while Durban services will also be increased. The move comes as international traffic to and from South Africa continues to recover strongly, driven by leisure travel, business demand and onward connectivity through Qatar Airways’ global hub at Hamad International Airport.

Johannesburg remains the backbone of Qatar Airways’ South African operation and will benefit from the largest share of the capacity increase. The airline will add three additional weekly flights on the Doha–Johannesburg route, increasing frequencies from 18 to 21 services per week. The route is typically operated using a mix of Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft, offering passengers a choice of Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite business class and a high-density economy cabin.

Cape Town will see its weekly frequencies rise from 12 to 14 flights, further strengthening the airline’s presence in one of South Africa’s most important leisure and tourism markets. The additional capacity is expected to be particularly attractive during peak travel periods, as Cape Town continues to draw strong inbound demand from Europe, North America and Asia, with seamless onward connections through Doha.

Durban will also benefit from the network expansion, with Qatar Airways increasing services from five to seven flights per week. The Durban service, which operates via Maputo, provides an important international link for KwaZulu-Natal, supporting both tourism and business travel while offering access to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network.

According to Qatar Airways, the additional flights are designed to provide greater flexibility and choice for travellers while improving connection times through Doha. Hamad International Airport has become one of the world’s leading transfer hubs, consistently ranked among the best globally for passenger experience, efficiency and reliability.

“South Africa remains a strategic market for Qatar Airways,” the airline said in a statement announcing the expansion. “By increasing frequencies across our South African gateways, we are responding directly to customer demand while enhancing connectivity to key destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.”

The expansion also reflects the airline’s confidence in South Africa’s aviation market at a time when capacity growth remains uneven across the continent. While some carriers have taken a cautious approach to fleet deployment and frequency increases, Qatar Airways has continued to steadily grow its African footprint, leveraging its strong hub-and-spoke model and modern widebody fleet.

The additional flights are expected to benefit not only passengers but also the wider aviation and tourism sectors. Increased long-haul capacity typically supports inbound tourism, air cargo volumes and trade links, while providing South African travellers with improved access to international destinations via a single connection.

Qatar Airways’ expansion comes amid intense competition on long-haul routes linking Southern Africa with global hubs. The airline continues to position itself as a premium carrier, with a strong focus on onboard product, service quality and network breadth. Its South African services offer connections to more than 160 destinations worldwide, including major cities in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. This is enhanced by the Airlines 25% equity stake in local carrier Airlink, acquired in 2024.

With the added seven weekly flights, Qatar Airways further consolidates its role as one of the largest international carriers serving South Africa. As the new frequencies come online in early 2026, passengers can expect more choice, improved scheduling options and enhanced connectivity, a welcome development for a market that continues to play a vital role in Africa’s long-haul aviation landscape.