In brief
- A 15 May 2021 Somaliland Sun report said Qatar Airways Vice-President for Africa Hendrik Du Preez named Somaliland among possible future African destinations.
- The report does not establish that Qatar Airways has since launched, scheduled or committed to any Hargeisa service.
- No source cited covers Qatar Airways activity after 15 May 2021, and no link is drawn to Egal International Airport infrastructure decisions.
On 15 May 2021, Somaliland Sun reported that Qatar Airways was considering Somaliland as one of its key destinations in Africa as part of a wider network expansion, commenting on remarks made by Hendrik Du Preez, Qatar Airways Vice-President for Africa, to Routesonline.
The report attributes to Du Preez the statement that the airline was "definitely looking at other destinations in Africa as there is huge potential across the continent for new routes" and says he mentioned the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somaliland, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe as possible future destinations. Somaliland Sun also wrote that "Hargeisa will soon be one" of Qatar Airways' main destinations, quoting Du Preez.
However, the report provides no primary Qatar Airways statement, press release, schedule filing, slot request or route launch announcement. It labels the Hargeisa reference as one of several possible future destinations, and its own characterisation of "the entry of Qatar Airways in Hargeisa" is an editorial assessment, not a factual record of any entry. No evidence is cited that Qatar Airways has since launched, scheduled or filed any Hargeisa service.
The article also refers to other carriers serving or planning to serve Hargeisa: Kenya Airways announced it would begin flying directly from Nairobi to Hargeisa on May 28 with three flights a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; Ethiopian Airlines had two flights a day; and Uganda Airlines announced it would fly directly to the Somaliland capital "soon". Pre-COVID, Dubai had up to 13 weekly departures to Hargeisa, 11 by Emirates' partner flydubai.
Qatar Airways' Africa network at the time comprised 26 destinations, up from 24 in 2019, with Abuja, Accra, and Luanda added in 2020 and Abidjan due in June, according to the report.
An anonymous comment on the article questioned its credibility as "ineffective propaganda", but that claim is not verified.
No Qatar Airways network figures for after 15 May 2021, no Hargeisa route status, and no Somaliland airport authority comment are provided in the source. The report makes no material link between the airline's comments and Egal International Airport capacity, ownership, funding or any construction or infrastructure decision.
Frequently asked questions
What has Qatar Airways said about serving Hargeisa?
According to a Somaliland Sun report dated 15 May 2021, Qatar Airways Vice-President for Africa Hendrik Du Preez told Routesonline that the airline was looking at other African destinations and mentioned Somaliland among possible future destinations.
Has Qatar Airways launched flights to Hargeisa?
The Somaliland Sun report does not establish that Qatar Airways has launched, scheduled or committed to any Hargeisa service. No primary Qatar Airways statement or schedule filing is cited.
What is the current status of Egal International Airport upgrades?
The source does not provide information on Egal International Airport infrastructure, capacity, ownership or funding. It makes no link between Qatar Airways' comments and any construction or airport development decision.