Testo dell'articolo
Qatar Airways has cemented its deepening relationship with International Airlines Group through a joint business agreement with British Airways that the two airlines said would allow them to cooperate on scheduling and pricing.
Tuesday’s announcement comes after Qatar Airways announced in August that it had increased its stake in IAG, which owns BA, Iberia and Vueling, to 20 per cent, taking opportunity of the fall in the group’s shares following the UK’s Brexit vote to build up its stake, writes Robert Wright.
Qatar Airways, like Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, has sought to catch up with Dubai’s Emirates Airline by building up stakes in overseas carriers, in an effort to drive further traffic to its worldwide hub in Doha.
The airlines said they would code-share – offering tickets under both airlines’ flight codes – on all non-stop flights operated between the UK and Doha and on connecting services to destinations in the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The arrangement would strengthen the oneworld airline alliance, which IAG leads, and enable it to compete more effectively on the routes concerned, the pair said.
Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, said he was “delighted” to announce the joint business agreement.
“This agreement will benefit customers by giving them access to more destinations through Qatar Airways’ extensive network,” he said. “It will also allow us to provide easier journeys with better aligned schedules, more frequencies and improved flight transfers.”
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group’s chief executive, said British Airways was “steeped in history and prestige”, adding:
"We are proud to be partnering with them to offer our passengers an even greater choice of global destinations,” he said. “This partnership brings together two world-class airlines to provide an enhanced operation for our passengers with increased daily flights between London and Doha, greater choice of flight schedules, wider range of fares and improved members’ benefits."
Financial Times 29/9/2016
Qatar Airways has cemented its deepening relationship with International Airlines Group through a joint business agreement with British Airways that the two airlines said would allow them to cooperate on scheduling and pricing.
Tuesday’s announcement comes after Qatar Airways announced in August that it had increased its stake in IAG, which owns BA, Iberia and Vueling, to 20 per cent, taking opportunity of the fall in the group’s shares following the UK’s Brexit vote to build up its stake, writes Robert Wright.
Qatar Airways, like Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, has sought to catch up with Dubai’s Emirates Airline by building up stakes in overseas carriers, in an effort to drive further traffic to its worldwide hub in Doha.
The airlines said they would code-share – offering tickets under both airlines’ flight codes – on all non-stop flights operated between the UK and Doha and on connecting services to destinations in the UK, continental Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The arrangement would strengthen the oneworld airline alliance, which IAG leads, and enable it to compete more effectively on the routes concerned, the pair said.
Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, said he was “delighted” to announce the joint business agreement.
“This agreement will benefit customers by giving them access to more destinations through Qatar Airways’ extensive network,” he said. “It will also allow us to provide easier journeys with better aligned schedules, more frequencies and improved flight transfers.”
Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group’s chief executive, said British Airways was “steeped in history and prestige”, adding:
"We are proud to be partnering with them to offer our passengers an even greater choice of global destinations,” he said. “This partnership brings together two world-class airlines to provide an enhanced operation for our passengers with increased daily flights between London and Doha, greater choice of flight schedules, wider range of fares and improved members’ benefits."
Financial Times 29/9/2016
