Qatar Airways Drops Bid for American Airlines Investment

Doha, Qatar-based Qatar Airways announced Wednesday they will not invest in American Airlines as they had previously intended. The U.S. carrier had vigorously opposed the investment.

“Further review of the proposed financial investment, taking into account the latest public disclosure of American Airlines, has demonstrated that the investment no longer meets our objectives,” Qatar Airways said in a statement emailed to various news outlets Wednesday.

American Airlines has not yet commented publicly on the recent announcement.

The Gulf carrier had expressed interest in purchasing as much as 10 percent of the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline, currently the largest in the world. But other reports suggested they were willing to lessen the percentage to avoid needing Board of Directors approval.

The proposed investment came as a surprise to many, especially as the Middle East’s biggest carriers – Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar – are locked in a heated battle with the legacy carriers in the U.S. over the Gulf carriers’ use of government subsidies.

The carrier, however, said they would continue looking for ways to expand their U.S. investment portfolio.

“Qatar Airways will continue to investigate alternative investment opportunities in the United States of America and elsewhere that do meet our objectives.”

• Author
• Recent Posts

Parker Davis

Parker joined AirlineGeeks as a writer and photographer in 2016, combining his longtime love for aviation with a newfound passion for journalism. Since then, he’s worked as a Senior Writer before becoming Editor-in-Chief of the site in 2020. Originally from Dallas and an American frequent flyer, he left behind the city’s rich aviation history to attend college in North Carolina, where he’s studying economics.

Latest posts by Parker Davis (see all)

• Cathay Pacific Returns to Russian Airspace, Limiting Codeshares from Other Carriers - November 4, 2022
• Interview: Expedia VP of Airline Partnerships On the Changing Game for Airlines, Travelers - September 27, 2022
• Hit By Western Sanctions, Aeroflot Signs Letter of Intent for 339 Aircraft with UAC - September 7, 2022