---

American Airlines on Thursday said it recently received an unsolicited offer from Qatar Airways about its intention to acquire at least a 10 percent stake in its company, a move that not many people could have predicted.

The notice advised that Qatar intends to purchase at least $808 million in the U.S.-based airline following a conversation between the two companies' CEOs, which was initiated by Qatar Airways' CEO, Akbar Al Baker, American said in a statement.

American said Thursday that it will respond to the notice "in due course" with the appropriate filings required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Qatar Airways has submitted a filing under the HSR Act, with respect to its potential investment in American Airlines common stock, the companies have confirmed.

Shares of American Airlines jumped nearly 5 percent on this news. [...]

This news might come as a surprise because American's CEO, Doug Parker, has been extremely vocal in blasting Gulf carriers, like Qatar, arguing they receive subsidies and have potentially hurt U.S. carriers as a result.

A deal like this, though, couldn't be stopped by Parker, so long as Qatar doesn't exceed the 24.9 percent ceiling.

---

---

---

---

American Airlines' chief executive said on Thursday he is not "particularly excited" about Qatar Airways' interest in buying up to 10 percent of the U.S. carrier's shares, in a letter to employees following the state-owned Gulf airline's overture.

---