Qatar Airways has acquired a 5% stake in China Southern Airlines, the state-owned Gulf carrier has announced, in a move to gain access to the fast-growing mainland Chinese market.
Qatar Airways also owns a 20% stake in British Airways-parent International Consolidated Airlines Group, 10% of South America's LATAM Airlines Group SA, 49% of Italy's Meridiana and a 9.99% stake in Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific.
Seeking New Partners And Routes
Qatar's flagship airline has sought new partners and routes after it was blocked last year from flying to the lucrative markets of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates because of restrictions imposed by those countries.
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, imposed a political and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism, which Doha denies.
Potential Stake Increase
China Southern in a separate statement said Qatar Airways may consider increasing its stake in the airline in the next 12 months. Qatar had no previous investment in the Chinese airline.
Qatar Airways is the second foreign carrier that has a stake in China Southern, after American Airlines. The Chinese carrier left the Skyteam airline alliance at the start of the year.
Opportunities To Work Together
There are opportunities for "us to work together and build a long term relationship in ways that would bring benefits to customers of both airlines," said Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker.
Ajith K, director of Asia transport at UOB Kay Hian, said given that China Southern is the biggest competitor of Cathay Pacific in Greater China, this deal could strengthen the China Southern's position at the Hong-Kong carrier's expense. "Why Qatar is doing, seems to me, one of course is to gain access to the Chinese market. Secondly it's probably that they are hedging against their bet given they own almost 10 percent in Cathay Pacific."
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