News

Qatar Airways Acquires 25% Stake In South Africa’s Airlink

The investment will improve Qatar Airways’ position as a regional player in the African market and boost its economic potential.

Published

4 weeks ago

August 22, 2024

Nour Nasir

qatar airways acquires 25% stake in south africa's airlink

The Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% share of Southern Africa’s top independent regional carrier, Airlink. The announcement signals ambitious plans for the multi-award-winning airline to further expand operations across the African continent. In addition, the investment in Airlink (which already flies to over 45 African destinations) will enhance the code-sharing alliance between the two carriers.

qatar airways and airlink partnership

After the announcement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer stated: “Our investment in Airlink further demonstrates how integral we see Africa being to our business’ future. This partnership not only demonstrates our confidence in Airlink, as a company that is resilient, agile, financially robust, and governed on sound principles, but also in Africa as a whole, showing huge potential that I am delighted we are able to help start realizing”.

Airlink Chief Executive Rodger Foster added: “Having Qatar Airways as an equity partner is a powerful endorsement of Airlink and echoes our faith in the markets we currently serve and plan to add to our network. This transaction will unlock growth by providing efficiencies of scale, increasing our capacity, and expanding our marketing reach. By bolstering Airlink and its business, this investment will strengthen all of the existing airline partnerships Airlink has nurtured over the years”.

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The Qatar Airways and Airlink partnership will soon align both carriers’ loyalty programs — Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Airlink Skybucks — and eventually lead to further cooperation and market growth for both airlines.

Qatar Airways already flies to 29 African destinations, with a handful of new cities added since December 2020, including Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Harare, Kano, Luanda, Lusaka, and Port Harcourt. Meanwhile, Cairo and Alexandria have also resumed regular scheduled flights.

News

Tech Startup Foodics Offers Smarter Restaurant Management

The Saudi company’s innovative solutions optimize restaurant operations, from ordering to payments, delivery, and more.

Published

2 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Nour Nasir

tech startup foodics offers smarter restaurant management

Foodics, a prominent player in the MENA restaurant management landscape, is transforming the food and beverage industry through its comprehensive, in-house developed Restaurant Management System (RMS).

Known for its strong presence within Saudi Arabia’s thriving startup ecosystem, Foodics already serves customers in over 35 countries. The company provides innovative hardware and software solutions designed to help restaurant owners optimize their operations.

Currently, Foodics offers more than 100 apps that seamlessly integrate into restaurant operations. These tools cover everything from front-of-house management and data collection to inventory tracking, menu creation, delivery coordination, and more.

foodics complete services showcase

To further simplify customer ordering and payments, Foodics offers various specialized solutions. These include Foodics Online, a commission-free online ordering platform; Foodics Pay, which streamlines payment processes; Foodics Kiosk, a self-ordering and checkout system; Foodics Marketplace, a platform that partners with over 100 third-party apps for easy integration; and Foodics Accounting, a smart financial management tool designed to simplify accounting tasks.

“We sensed a lack of digitalization across the Saudi food and beverage sector in 2014, especially in the ordering process, including restaurants that were facing operational challenges. This inspired us to develop a fully integrated ecosystem to support the industry as we wanted to bring new technologies that change and enhance how people interact and connect with their favorite food brands,” comments Ahmad Al-Zaini, CEO and co-founder of Foodics.

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Today, more than 30,000 food and beverage outlets use the company’s services. In the UAE alone, approximately 1,850 restaurants rely on Foodics, with over 60% of these establishments having been clients for more than two years.

By focusing on creating efficiency and convenience, Foodics has had a significant impact on the Middle Eastern F&B sector. Their solutions have redefined the dining experience, from the moment customers place an order until the food is delivered to their table or doorstep.