Qatar Airways takes 25% stake in Moscow’s Vnukovo airport

Qatar Airways has bought a 25% stake in one of Moscow’s largest airports for an undisclosed sum as the company attempts to overcome the Gulf blockade of the emirate. Akbar Al Baker, CE of Qatar Airways, said Monday that the airline expected the deal on Vnukovo to be concluded within the next 8 weeks. The airport, Russia’s third-largest, served 18m passengers last year and is used by the govt for official travel. Businessman Vitaly Vantsev and partners own a 74.9% stake of Vnukovo. Al Baker did not say whether he was buying from Vantsev, but Russia’s state property management service said it had no plans to privatise its 25% stake. Qatar has invested significantly in Russia in recent years. Qatar Investment Authority bought a 25% stake in St Petersburg’s airport in 2016. <br/>