It is not the first time, that Akbar Al Baker shows a very open attitude towards his German competitor. «We don't want to harm Lufthansa», the Qatar Airways CEO said in an interview with aeroTELEGRAPH in 2018. He added that wants to grow his airline, but not at the expense of others. «If there is competition, there is also room for cooperation,» Al Baker said referring to Lufthansa.
Now the manager has renewed this ambition. And even enlarged it. «If there is an opportunity to invest in Lufthansa, we would like to do that,» Al Baker said in Doha on Sunday (December 1) according to the German DPA news agency. He also mentioned codeshare flights or a cooperation in marketing as further areas where his airline and Lufthansa could work together.
Stakes in several airlines
Qatar Airways has already invested in various other Airlines, among them one of Lufthansas biggest competitors. The flag carrier of the state on the Persian Gulf owns a stake of around 20 percent of IAG, parent company of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. They also hold a stake of 49 percent in Air Italy, 10,03 percent in Latam Airline, 9,99 percent in Cathay Pacific and 5 percent in China Southern.
