Air France-KLM has announced a new 'Trust Together' nine-point strategy to "return to a leadership position in our markets," which includes a new Air France airline called 'Boost', aimed at long-haul markets, according to chairman and CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac To be launched in the winter of 2017 and based at Paris CDG, it will have a fleet of 10 long-haul aircraft by 2020 with a specific focus to compete with Gulf airlines that are expanding into "key markets where Air France-KLM is pursuing … [Read more...] about AF-KLM to launch new airline to compete with Gulf carriers
Qatar Airways
Qatar hopes to wrap up 49% Meridiana Fly stake by January
Qatar Airways’ negotiations with Meridiana Fly, for a 49 per cent stake in the Italian airline is ongoing and and should conclude by early next year according to Qatar’s group chief executive was also provided by Akbar Al Baker. “We are hoping to have our discussions concluded by the end of January. During this period Meridiana Fly also has to deliver certain conditions and achieve certain targets in its performance. We want Meridiana Fly to be a very strong national carrier with a robust … [Read more...] about Qatar hopes to wrap up 49% Meridiana Fly stake by January
Qatar Airways begins A350 service to London Heathrow
Qatar Airways’ first daily regularly-scheduled A350 service to London Heathrow arrived in the United Kingdom on Sunday 30 October, as the airline introduced the state-of-the-art aircraft on the route, complementing the existing ‘best of fleet’ on its six daily flights from Hamad International Airport. The aircraft joins the airline’s A380, B777 and A330 aircraft currently operating the route. Qatar Airways was the global launch customer for the Airbus A350 XWB in January 2015 and currently … [Read more...] about Qatar Airways begins A350 service to London Heathrow
Qatar Airways announces order for 30 B787-9 Dreamliners, 10 777-300ERs
Boeing and Qatar Airways announced an order for 30 B787-9 Dreamliners and 10 B777-300ERs, valued at US$11.7 billion at list prices. The airline also signed a Letter of Intent for up to 60 B737 MAX 8s, valued at $6.9 billion at list prices. Today's announcement builds on Qatar Airways' current fleet which includes 84 Boeing aircraft, a combination of B787s and B777s, all delivered over the last nine years. With this new order, Qatar Airways increases its firm order backlog of Boeing widebody … [Read more...] about Qatar Airways announces order for 30 B787-9 Dreamliners, 10 777-300ERs
Qatar Airways bumps up stake in IAG to 20%
Qatar Airways has announced that it now holds a 20.01 per cent stake in International Airlines Group (IAG) effective from 28 July. This follows a 12 July statement that it held, at that time, a 15.67 per cent shareholding in IAG, reiterating that it might consider increasing its stake further within the allowable limits. Non-EU shareholders of IAG including Qatar Airways are subject to an overall cap on non-EU ownership as a result of the requirement for EU airlines to be majority owned by EU … [Read more...] about Qatar Airways bumps up stake in IAG to 20%
Qatar aims to be “major player” on transpac within 9mos
Qatar Airways - the world’s third largest international cargo carrier - has said it plans to become a major player in three new markets: Transpacific, Australia and South America in the next nine months. This major enhancement of the carrier’s network is made possible by the constant growth of its fleet, which now includes nine B777F, eight A3330F and two B747F aircraft, as well as the opening of its new European hub in Luxembourg. The cargo carrier projects that its pure cargo fleet will … [Read more...] about Qatar aims to be “major player” on transpac within 9mos