For its part, Qatar was patiently waiting for Côte d’Ivoire to wrap up its 2020 presidential election. However, Doha has been wanting to ‘reignite’ its relations with Abidjan for several months now.
This desire began to materialise last April when Qatar Airways announced that it would start operating flights to Abidjan. According to our information, this had been planned for a long time. The airline will launch three weekly flights from Doha to Abidjan, the first of which will depart on 16 June.
The Ivorian head of state Alassane Ouattara values his relationship with Qatar. It is a very important relationship to him.
The decision by Qatar Airways is the first step towards a rapprochement between the Qatari company and Air Côte d’Ivoire, which is majority-owned by the Ivorian state and whose natural hub is Abidjan’s Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport with 2.36 million annual passengers.
The presence of Qatar Airways may well boost the airport’s traffic. Expansion work at Abidjan airport will allow passenger numbers to increase from three to five million, and even to seven million by 2025.
Negotiations are ongoing between the two airlines. “Our discussions are at an advanced stage. Our wish is to conclude, first of all, an agreement that will allow us to operate the same flights,” said a source at Air Côte d’Ivoire, who wished to remain anonymous.
The launch of Qatar Airways flights is a boon for the Ivorian airline, which is looking for profitability and competitiveness to consolidate its operations, as well as launch new projects such as flights to the US. Côte d’Ivoire is not only hoping that Qatar will purchase some of its shares of Air Côte d’Ivoire, along with certain shareholders like Goldenrod, but also finance its airline’s 2021-2025 strategy.
Hotels and offshore oil
Qatar’s offensive into Abidjan goes beyond simply conquering their airspace. In 2020, the Ivorian authorities granted Qatar Charity a licence. The…