Qatar Airways expands airline investments with Italy's Meridiana

Qatar Airways said Thursday it had acquired a 49% stake in AQA Holding, the new parent company of Italy’s Meridiana, adding to its growing portfolio of investments in foreign airlines. Previous sole owner Alisarda retains 51%, the major Middle East airline said. Loss-making, Sardinia-based Meridiana is Italy’s second largest carrier behind Alitalia, which is partly owned by Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways. Alitalia filed for administration earlier this year. The value of the Meridiana acquisition was not given, and the deal was finalised after protracted negotiations that formally started more than a year ago. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the deal represented a turnaround for Meridiana and would help Italy’s tourism industry, especially in the poorer south of the country.<br/>