Qatar Airways to launch flights to Lusaka and Harare

Doha-based Qatar Airways has announced that it will launch flights to Lusaka, Zambia and Harare, Zimbabwe. Notably, these are the 5th and 6th destinations in Africa added to Qatar Airways’ network since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting 6th August 2021, Qatar Airways will operate 3-weekly flights between Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Harare Airport with a stop at Lusaka Airport. The schedule for the flights is:

• Doha-Lusaka
• Departure time: 02:20
• Arrival time: 08:50
• Flight time: 7 hours and 30 minutes
• Flight number: QR1455
• Frequency: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

• Lusaka-Harare
• Departure time: 10:20
• Arrival time: 11:20
• Flight time: 1 hour
• Flight number: QR1455
• Frequency: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

• Harare-Lusaka
• Departure time: 18:55
• Arrival time: 19:55
• Flight time: 1 hour
• Flight number: QR1456
• Frequency: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

• Lusaka-Doha
• Departure time: 21:25
• Arrival time: 05:55 (the next day)
• Flight time: 7 hours and 30 minutes
• Flight number: QR1455
• Frequency: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

Flights to Lusaka and Harare will be operated by a Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner featuring 22 lie-flat business class seats and 232 standard economy class seats. Passengers from Zambia and Zimbabwe can connect to more than 140+ destinations across the Qatar Airways network.

Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways, said:

Africa continues to be an area of strong growth for Qatar Airways and launching this service will support the development of the economy and tourism sector in both countries. Not only do we continue to rebuild our network after the pandemic, but we are actively expanding it with the addition of these two key destinations. These are the fifth and sixth new destinations in Africa added to our network since the start of the pandemic, taking our total new destinations added across the globe to 10.

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With the addition of these two new routes, the carrier will operate over 100 weekly flights to 27 destinations in Africa.

The launch of Lusaka and Harare also supports increased demand for trade between Zambia and Zimbabwe and destinations on the Qatar Airways network such as London, Frankfurt and New York and from multiple points in China. The airline will carry a total of 30 tonnes of cargo on the aircraft on every flight. With this, Qatar Airways Cargo will play a key role in facilitating key exports from Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Qatar Airways has expanded greatly in the African aviation market. Last year, it launched flights to Abuja, Accra and Launda, while Abidjan joined last week. Flights to Cairo and Alexandar in Egypt are also up and running once again following the easing of tensions between Qatar and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has recently announced resumption of flights to Phuket, Sharjah and Málaga. The airline is flying to more destinations in the United States than it did before pandemic and has also increased frequency of flights to the Maldives.

Featured image by YouTube/David Aerospotting

What do you think of Qatar Airways’ expansion in the African aviation market? Let me know in the comments section below.

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