News
Qatar Airways increases IAG stake to 15.01%
May 20th 2016
Qatar Airways has again raised its equity in British Airways (BA) parent, IAG, this time to 15.01%. "Qatar Airways may consider increasing its stake further over time within the allowable limits [49%]," the state-owned carrier said. Read More »
The Doha-based premium carrier initially acquired 9.9% of IAG for approximately $1.7 billion in January 2015 then lifted its shareholding to “just under 12%” last month.
"We have been very happy with our investment in IAG from a financial, commercial and strategic perspective," Qatar Airways chief, Akbar Al Baker, said and added the Gulf carrier fully backs IAG’s strategy. IAG CEO, Willie Walsh, has previously called the partnership with Qatar Airways an "excellent relationship". BA earlier this month said it would fly to Doha non-stop from October 30, eliminating the stopover in Bahrain.
Qatar Airways has a vested interest in growing its ties with IAG, and BA in particular, given they provide easy access to the group’s extensive trans-Atlantic network. Al Baker said the cooperation with IAG "has helped to deliver on our westbound strategy".
