Qatar Airways said it has raised its ownership stake in IAG to 15.01%. The carrier originally acquired a 9.99% stake in IAG in Jan 2015. It raised that stake to just under 12% last month, and now has moved to the 15.01% holding. Qatar said that “the increased stake recognises the strengthening commercial and strategic ties between the companies,” adding, “Qatar Airways believes IAG is very well positioned in Europe on the back notably of its attractive exposure to the transatlantic segment, its leading positions at the London and Madrid hubs and the future benefits from the acquisition of Aer Lingus.” Qatar CE Akbar Al Baker said the “relationship formed [with IAG] has helped to deliver on our westbound strategy.” The carrier said it “may consider increasing its stake further over time within the allowable limits.” <br/>
oneworld
The CE of Qatar Airways -- and chief antagonist of Delta Air Lines -- has said that his new Atlanta-Doha route would “rub salt in the wounds” of his US rival. Jennifer Lopez will be on hand to shake out the first dash. Tuesday night Qatar Airways will celebrate flights linking Qatar’s capital to Delta’s headquarters city, with J. Lo, as the star is known, expected to perform at the city’s historic Fox Theatre in front of Qatar CE Akbar Al Baker and guests. Delta fired back hours before Lopez’s show, saying it wouldn’t renew its sponsorship of the Fox next year after more than 20 years of support. The backdrop to the gala is a dogfight in international skies between established US carriers and upstart Middle Eastern airlines. Delta has accused Qatar and other Gulf carriers of competing unfairly. <br/>
The chances of finding missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are fading and searchers have to face possible failure, the head of the Australian investigation team told the Guardian newspaper. With about 15,000 square kilometres left to scour of a 120,000 square-kilometre search area in the southern Indian Ocean, there’s a “decreasing possibility” of success, Martin Dolan, head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said Tuesday. When Dolan’s group began the search, the best advice received by experts was that it was highly probable, “but not certain the aircraft would be found in this area,” Dolan said. “We have to contemplate now the possibility that we will not find the aircraft.” Bad weather may delay the completion of the search -- originally slated for the middle of the year -- by at least a month. <br/>