Qatar Airways bids to buy into American Airlines
- Thread starter 1AA
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This makes natural sense for QR and the gov of Qatar.
They already own ~15% of IAG and a portion of LHR.
So buying a chunk of alliance partner AAL is only the next logical and politically savvy step.
They already own ~15% of IAG and a portion of LHR.
So buying a chunk of alliance partner AAL is only the next logical and politically savvy step.
whatkindoffreshhell
Veteran
Wasn't Parker just whining the other day about AA's stock price?
Anyway, QR's CEO Al Baker (just love that name) is clever and enjoys very deep pockets.
So what kind of equipment ya got for that DFW-DOH flight and how many senior flight attendants will bid it?
DOH ain't PIT that's for sure.
Anyway, QR's CEO Al Baker (just love that name) is clever and enjoys very deep pockets.
So what kind of equipment ya got for that DFW-DOH flight and how many senior flight attendants will bid it?
DOH ain't PIT that's for sure.
Jester
Veteran
B787 has the range on the lower side of a MTOW of approximately 9,700 statute miles vs. DFW-DOH great circle map distance of nearly 9,000 statute miles. Either way don't why any American has an interest in visiting a Middle East country, same goes for Pyongyang.
28L_or_10R?
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- Apr 11, 2008
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The current management will be replaced by Hamas leadership in Gaza.
whatkindoffreshhell
Veteran
So Doug Parker is "not happy" and finds this move "puzzling and strange"
Where is Bob Crandall when you need him?
Extra credit question: how would Bob Crandall respond to this move? Or perhaps QR wouldn't even dared try it in the first place if Bob was still around??
Where is Bob Crandall when you need him?
Extra credit question: how would Bob Crandall respond to this move? Or perhaps QR wouldn't even dared try it in the first place if Bob was still around??
WeAAsles
Veteran
- Oct 20, 2007
- 23,195
- 5,343
A pretty decent little FU to Qatar.
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/22/amer...sponse-to-qatar-airways-desire-to-invest.html
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/22/amer...sponse-to-qatar-airways-desire-to-invest.html
Some more viewpoints from Air Transport World (you know the publication that named us airline of the year for 2017.)
Doug Parker Response:
http://atwonline.com/airlines/ameri...m=email&elq2=77bae1a058ce4d1292febfc339e7fb89
ATW Editor Comment:
http://atwonline.com/blog/qatars-unsolicited-unexpected-and-unwelcome-bid-american
Doug Parker Response:
http://atwonline.com/airlines/ameri...m=email&elq2=77bae1a058ce4d1292febfc339e7fb89
ATW Editor Comment:
http://atwonline.com/blog/qatars-unsolicited-unexpected-and-unwelcome-bid-american
OP
We already have a form of strict law...It's called the ASSOCIATION..You know, you don't have a say in anything and don't get to vote on anything...
AANOTOK
Veteran
- Oct 10, 2009
- 4,627
- 2,395
Sorry for the long article, I don't have a subscription to the Dallas Biz Journal.
Qatar Airways to start amassing American Airlines shares 'soon,' CEO says
Qatar Airways will move ahead with its plans to take a big stake in American Airlines despite protests from the Fort Worth-based company’s management and pilots, the state-owned carrier’s chief executive told reporters on Thursday in Ireland.
Qatar notified American Airlines (Nasdaq: AAL) last month that it wants to buy up to 10 percent of its shares. A purchase of more than 4.75 percent requires approval of American's board.
CEO Akbar al-Baker, who was in Dublin launching a new Qatar Airways route, said the carrier will begin buying American’s shares on the open market “soon.”Qatar does not intend to buy more than 10 percent of American, al Baker said.
American’s stock jumped 2.5 percent to $52.55 in early afternoon trading.
If Qatar Airways succeeds in amassing 10 percent of the world’s largest airline's stock, it will be one of the four biggest owners of American and essentially match the recent stake taken by investor extraordinaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
The unsolicited move to buy heavily into American would make Qatar a major owner at a time when American and other U.S. carriers are fighting expansion by Qatar and two other Middle Eastern carriers. The U.S. airlines claim the Middle Eastern carriers receive state subsidies that violate trade agreements. The Middle Eastern carriers deny that.
American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker last month called the proposed share buy-up by Qatar “puzzling,” and added in a memo to employees, “we aren’t particularly excited about Qatar’s outreach.”
The United States is an important market for Qatar Airways, accounting for 16 percent of its total traffic, Corrine Png, founder and CEO of research firm Crucial Perspective, told the Dallas Business Journal.
With an ambitious planned capacity expansion of over 20 percent this year and next, Qatar Airways needs to increase its international traffic feed and broaden its network reach, especially after the recent Saudi-led blockade, Png said. Partnering with a U.S. carrier would help facilitate this, she said.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt announced they were severing relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Al-Baker said Thursday that American's CEO Doug Parker told him last month that he opposes Qatar's planned investment and that he would not recommend that the board approve the purchase of a stake worth more than 4.75 percent, Reuters reported from Dublin.
"He categorically told us that he was not interested, that he would not suggest to his board to allow us. However, I told him we can still take 4.75 percent and we will do that," al Baker said.
"Maybe once we have taken that 4.75 and they see the value that Qatar Airways brings to the table for them that they will reconsider," he said.
He said he does not want to soften American Airlines management’s lobbying to curb U.S. flights by Qatar Airways and rival Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, according to Reuters. The U.S. carriers contend that the Gulf carriers have received billions of dollars in unfair state subsidies.
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Qatar Airways to start amassing American Airlines shares 'soon,' CEO says
Qatar Airways will move ahead with its plans to take a big stake in American Airlines despite protests from the Fort Worth-based company’s management and pilots, the state-owned carrier’s chief executive told reporters on Thursday in Ireland.
Qatar notified American Airlines (Nasdaq: AAL) last month that it wants to buy up to 10 percent of its shares. A purchase of more than 4.75 percent requires approval of American's board.
CEO Akbar al-Baker, who was in Dublin launching a new Qatar Airways route, said the carrier will begin buying American’s shares on the open market “soon.”Qatar does not intend to buy more than 10 percent of American, al Baker said.
American’s stock jumped 2.5 percent to $52.55 in early afternoon trading.
If Qatar Airways succeeds in amassing 10 percent of the world’s largest airline's stock, it will be one of the four biggest owners of American and essentially match the recent stake taken by investor extraordinaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
The unsolicited move to buy heavily into American would make Qatar a major owner at a time when American and other U.S. carriers are fighting expansion by Qatar and two other Middle Eastern carriers. The U.S. airlines claim the Middle Eastern carriers receive state subsidies that violate trade agreements. The Middle Eastern carriers deny that.
American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker last month called the proposed share buy-up by Qatar “puzzling,” and added in a memo to employees, “we aren’t particularly excited about Qatar’s outreach.”
The United States is an important market for Qatar Airways, accounting for 16 percent of its total traffic, Corrine Png, founder and CEO of research firm Crucial Perspective, told the Dallas Business Journal.
With an ambitious planned capacity expansion of over 20 percent this year and next, Qatar Airways needs to increase its international traffic feed and broaden its network reach, especially after the recent Saudi-led blockade, Png said. Partnering with a U.S. carrier would help facilitate this, she said.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt announced they were severing relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Al-Baker said Thursday that American's CEO Doug Parker told him last month that he opposes Qatar's planned investment and that he would not recommend that the board approve the purchase of a stake worth more than 4.75 percent, Reuters reported from Dublin.
"He categorically told us that he was not interested, that he would not suggest to his board to allow us. However, I told him we can still take 4.75 percent and we will do that," al Baker said.
"Maybe once we have taken that 4.75 and they see the value that Qatar Airways brings to the table for them that they will reconsider," he said.
He said he does not want to soften American Airlines management’s lobbying to curb U.S. flights by Qatar Airways and rival Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, according to Reuters. The U.S. carriers contend that the Gulf carriers have received billions of dollars in unfair state subsidies.
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