Meridiana seeking layoffs as part of Qatar deal

Meridiana is asking unions to agree to 900 job cuts - nearly half its workforce - as part of a planned partnership with Qatar Airways. Meridiana, owned by the Aga Khan, is under a govt-sponsored restructuring plan. The holding company behind Meridiana plans to complete a deal with Qatar Airways in the first half of 2016 after signing a MOU earlier this month. Qatar Airways will invest fresh money into a new company that will manage the airline, in which it will hold a 49% stake, Meridiana chairman Marco Rigotti said. The Aga Khan's fund will own the remaining 51%, Rigotti said, adding he hoped to strike a deal with unions by March over cuts to Meridiana's current 2,000-strong workforce. Industry minister Federica Guidi described a deal with Qatar as "the only option to relaunch and strengthen Meridiana", the ministry said. <br/>