Sydney Morning Herald, 23 June 2017 – Qatar Airways has expressed interest in buying up to 10 per cent of American Airlines, an unsolicited approach that comes amid criticism from US carriers that Persian Gulf competitors have an unfair advantage.
The state-owned Qatar Airways said it intended to buy the American carrier’s stock on the open market, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar al-Baker, approached the American Airlines chief, Doug Parker, about the possible purchase.
Qatar’s move reflects the broad ambitions of the airline, which has grown from a small, regional player focused on the Middle East to a global carrier with flights to 150 destinations. The airline has plans to bolster its presence in the United States, where it already flies to 10 cities. Read more…
