The award-winning airline continues its expansion in Africa, creating a vital
economic and business gateway to key European, Middle East and Asian markets
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – 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, 01 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 (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 andtourism. 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.
