* In April Qatar said it owned just under 12 pct of IAG
* Qatar wants to increase ties to London -CEO
* Good relations between Qatar, BA CEOs important -analyst
(Adds Qatar Airways CEO, analyst comment)
LONDON/ATLANTA, May 17 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways has raised its stake in British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG)
In April, Qatar Airway's Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said the company had increased its stake to under 12 percent from 9.99 percent.
Qatar Airways said in a statement it was happy with its investment in IAG, from a financial, commercial and strategic perspective and that the relationship had helped to deliver on its westbound strategy.
Al-Baker said at an event in Atlanta that he wanted to deepen links to London, where BA has its main hub.
"This is the hottest news coming out of the bakery. We want to increase ties to London," he said.
BA announced plans last week for a new direct route between London and Doha.
"Qatar can tap into IAG's extensive American network at Heathrow and Madrid whilst with limited exposure to the Australasian market IAG can benefit from Qatar's increased activity there," independent aviation consultant John Strickland said.
Under current rules, foreign investors cannot own more than 49 percent of a European airline.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas in London, Victoria Bryan in Berlin and Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by Kate Holton and Susan Thomas) ((Costas.Pitas@thomsonreuters.com; 02075428024; Reuters Messaging: costas.pitas.thomsonreuters@reuters.net and @Cpitas on Twitter))
* Qatar wants to increase ties to London -CEO
* Good relations between Qatar, BA CEOs important -analyst
(Adds Qatar Airways CEO, analyst comment)
LONDON/ATLANTA, May 17 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways has raised its stake in British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG)
In April, Qatar Airway's Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said the company had increased its stake to under 12 percent from 9.99 percent.
Qatar Airways said in a statement it was happy with its investment in IAG, from a financial, commercial and strategic perspective and that the relationship had helped to deliver on its westbound strategy.
Al-Baker said at an event in Atlanta that he wanted to deepen links to London, where BA has its main hub.
"This is the hottest news coming out of the bakery. We want to increase ties to London," he said.
BA announced plans last week for a new direct route between London and Doha.
"Qatar can tap into IAG's extensive American network at Heathrow and Madrid whilst with limited exposure to the Australasian market IAG can benefit from Qatar's increased activity there," independent aviation consultant John Strickland said.
Under current rules, foreign investors cannot own more than 49 percent of a European airline.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas in London, Victoria Bryan in Berlin and Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by Kate Holton and Susan Thomas) ((Costas.Pitas@thomsonreuters.com; 02075428024; Reuters Messaging: costas.pitas.thomsonreuters@reuters.net and @Cpitas on Twitter))
