...and brit opines:
"I'm thinking that's a typo, right? Not what you want to see on a high-profile press release..."

Likely an error in translation - If Airbus is anything like they were 20-30 years ago, it was originally written in English, translated into French for internal review, then re-translated back to English. :rolleyes:

Qatar Airways to buy Adria Airways stake
 

Bloomberg are reporting that Qatar Airways are to buy a 50% stake in Adria Airways, Slovenia's national airline, with almost 50 years history of air travel.

Link to Adria Airways

About Adria Airways - Adria Airways - Slovenia's national carrier

Qatar Airways with a Ljubljana base ?? :oh:

Deal is far from being done, if it goes through, that will be one more address to send my CV to.

You can't really say that Adria has 50 years of history - there was another airline, Inex-Adria, based in what was then another country, Yugoslavia, with a different ownership, operating in quite a different business sector, charter flights to Yugoslavia for holidaymakers, and other charters.

When the Yugoslavian civil war was in progress the whole operation was shut down, and then a new operator started up in the early 1990s in a new country, taking over some of the remnants.

In all fairness Adria themselves describe this background correctly on their own website.

This is much more strategic than you think!
 

No, think Qatar Airways with an EU AOC, able to operate from anywhere in the EU to Qatar (or indeed, to other points from the EU, or within the EU) without any pesky protectionist EU governments seeking to restrict them in the future. Lufthansa has lobbied the German government to restrict landing rights in Germany for Emirates - this move by QR (if confirmed) would protect them against any similar restriction by any EU government in the future. "You're refusing our application to operate 3 times per day from Frankfurt to Doha with A380s? No problem, we'll wet-lease the aircraft to our Slovenian subsidiary and do it that way."

Of course it also opens the possibility that QR might like to take on other routes from the EU. QR from Heathrow to New York, anyone? Thanks to EU/US open skies, this would be possible.

There is (sorry, Slovenia) no particular geographical significance in the choice of Adria - I'd say it's available, it's not too dear, it's in a low-labour-cost economy with relatively flexible labour regulation, it has some Star Alliance links, and it has enough jet equipment to be able to make a credible case to a regulator for putting widebodies on its AOC.

Interesting times!

C.

PS it would of course be 50% minus 1 share, so that Adria would remain majority-EU-owned.

If it was that easy to get a foothold into Europe why hasnt EK, Etihad and every other non euro airline been snapping up euro airlines ?

Well just read the online reviews of Qatar's service, they have to be one of the most popular airlines to travel with, I'd say "Welcome to Europe Qatar, just don't register as an LCC in Dublin or Luton"! :)

qatar airways to buy 40% of portuguese TAP
 

in the portuguese press it´s being told that the qatari airline is iminent to buy 40% of the portuguese airline tap member of star-alliance, previously this week the two countries signed an agreement of reduced fees for over flying each other airspace,(tap doesn´t fly that way..). so with this move is qatar airway trying to get into star alliance?
what would this mean for tap?and for the star alliance?

Qatar Airways poderá comprar até 40% da TAP- A Escolha do Editor - Jornal de negócios online

QR plans BHX and two other UK routes
 

Reported that QR is looking at establishing a new route between DOH and BHX, and two other UK routes. It is suggested that the other two routes may be a re-instatement of LGW and a new route to EDI.

Double daily to MAN also mentioned as possible.

Qatar Airways plans Birmingham-Doha route - www.travelweekly.co.uk

Any news on who the other two UK Airports that Qatar are looking at operating from are?

See post above

Oneworld it is
 

News - oneworld

Despite recent denials - it is going to happen well assuming AAB doesn't change his mind.

So EK+QF and now QR+BA and others.

How does this affect QF in oneworld if at all?

Hope this doesn't affect BHX's chances with QR, not exactly overflowing with oneworld airlines at BHX on schedule routes anyway.

In the meantime - it has actually happened, well the paperwork has if not the fitting of WiFi.

Qatar Airways receives first Boeing 787

The next two have also flown but no information whether the WiFi is fitted as yet or if they will follow the first for completion.

Pete