Qatar Airways is planning to acquire 49 percent stake in RwandAir, Rwanda’s national carrier, and will take delivery of 40 aircraft this year, announced H E Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways, yesterday.
“In 2020, we will have around 40 aircraft that will be delivered,” said H E Al Baker, addressing a press conference held on the sidelines of the CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit. “It is 49 percent stake that we are negotiating for in RwandAir. We are very tough negotiators. We will take our time to negotiate,” His Excellency said.
He added that Qatar Airways is investing in RwandAir after identifying Africa as a market with significant potential. Qatar Airways agreed in December to acquire a 60 percent stake in Rwanda’s new Bugesera International Airport, located south of the capital Kigali, where an existing hub is at full capacity.
“The airport is being built by our sovereign fund to take the capacity over 10 million passenger. The attraction of Kigali is its location, stability of the country and very favourable business environment that exist in the country,” H E Al Baker said.
“We will continue our engagement with various African partners to support and promote the realisation of Africa’s aviation potential,” His Excellency said.
Under the patronage and attendance of Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti, the CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit began yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel.
H E Al Baker announced that the Qatar Airways is still expanding at a time when international airlines are reducing their activities. The multiple award winning airline will add 11 new destinations this year. “Our network continues to grow with 11 new destinations in 2020,” he added.
He said new plans will be announced at ITB Berlin, the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show.
The airline is also interested in buying stake in India’s Indigo.
“Indigo is the only airline that we are very keen to invest in India,” he said adding it is efficiently run and a very profitable airline.
Speaking about the impact of cornavirus outbreak on its flight to China, he said Qatar Airways has suspended its flights to China not because of the virus but because of the restrictions imposed by other countries. He clarified that Qatar Airways is continuing its cargo operations to China.
His Excellency praised China’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, saying the Asian nation is doing a “fantastic job” in dealing with the epidemic
The world’s fastest-growing airline added several exciting new destinations to its growing network last year, including Rabat, Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; Langkawi, Malaysia; and Gaborone, Botswana.
“We continue to invest in the most technologically advanced aircraft with low carbon emission,” H E Al Baker added.