Qatar Airways is interested in acquiring a stake in India’s largest domestic carrier, IndiGo Airlines, according to Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker. The Doha-based carrier currently has a codeshare agreement with IndiGo.
This is not the first time Qatar Airways is indicating interest in IndiGo. Previously, the carrier showed similar interest back in 2019, however, nothing much materialise back then. According to Al Baker, it was not the right time.
Mr. Al Baker told the media, “Profitability, and efficiency are main criteria of our investment. IndiGo is the largest and most efficient Indian airline, which is why we are interested in them. And India remains strategically an important market for Qatar Airways.”
Earlier this year, Qatar Airways increased the frequency of flights to Sao Paulo and expanded its codeshare agreement with LATAM Airlines Brazil. It seeks to optimised connectivity for both airlines to and from Asian destinations.
Passengers of LATAM Airline Brazil will hugely benefit from Qatar Airways’ expansion to 10 weekly flights to and from Sao Paulo. Additionally, the passengers will be able to book eight Qatar Airways’ destinations. These destinations include Hong Kong, Bangkok, Maldives, Nairobi, Seoul and Tokyo. It is reported that there will also be additional flights to Baku, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
In January, Qatar Airways Cargo, which is one of the world’s leading air cargo carriers, took delivery of three new Boeing 777 Freighters last week. This will take the carrier’s total freighter fleet count to 30 freighters. Its fleet consists of two Boeing 747 freighters, 24 Boeing 777 Freighters and four Airbus A330 freighters.