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
Akbar Al Baker
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 begins eight flights a week to Birmingham
Qatar Airways has inaugurated the airline’s fourth UK gateway with direct flights between Doha and Birmingham using B787 Dreamliners. The inaugural flight touched down at sunrise on 30 March and was greeted by a traditional water salute. The addition of Birmingham marks the fourth UK gateway for Qatar Airways after London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh, with the eight weekly services operated by the B787 Dreamliner aircraft. Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker said: “We … [Read more...] about Qatar begins eight flights a week to Birmingham
Qatar Airways expands services across Eastern Europe
Qatar Airways is starting 2016 with an expansion programme across Eastern Europe, including Croatia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. Added frequencies and upscaled capacity will also see more cargo opportunities to many of these destinations. Flights to Zagreb and Budapest are increasing to a 10-weekly service from a current daily service from 3 April and 3 July respectively, while flights to Baku are increasing to an 11-weekly service, also from a current daily scheduled flight, from 27 … [Read more...] about Qatar Airways expands services across Eastern Europe
Qatar’s Al Baker on the Chinese ‘sleeping giants’
With no end in sight in the ongoing fracas between carriers in the US and Europe and those in the Middle East over alleged subsidies, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker gives his views on why Chinese carriers and others are spared the same accusations. When asked by Payload Asia in Doha recently about the largely quiet role of Chinese carriers, in what some refer to as the ‘sleeping giants’ of the air cargo sector, Al Baker said: “I agree, the Chinese carriers are sleeping giants. … [Read more...] about Qatar’s Al Baker on the Chinese ‘sleeping giants’