Qatar Airways on Thursday
bought 49% of AQA Holding, the new controlling shareholder of
Sardinian airline Meridiana Fly. After the closing of the
operation, Alisarda will now have a 51% of AQA holding. Qtara
Air CEO Akbar Al Baker said Meridian would cope with
competition, "offering new connections with Italy, Europe, the
US and elsewhere". In July last year Qatar Airways and Meridiana
signed the deal for Qatar to buy 49% of the Sardinian
airline. A statement from the Doha-based airline said the deal
with Meridiana's parent company Alisarda was conditional on
certain conditions that would have to be met by the start of
October. "The agreement provides for Qatar Airways to purchase
49 per cent of Meridiana Fly's shares, subject to the fulfilment
of certain conditions, before the closing which is planned for
early October." The current operation was launched early this
year.
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