Qatar in talks to take up to 20pc stake in Virgin

[RSVKanga]

AFAIAA VA is 100% foreign owned currently

That’s because an American private equity firm is completely different from an autocratic state with unlimited oil funds that are capable of pulling whatever the hell they want to achieve their goals.

 

[andye]

I do apologise if a (possibly a trifle tiddly) tongue-in-cheek post a couple of months ago has been taken as a profound insight into airline corporate strategy

 

[Doctore1003]

What are the main points in the AFR article? Can’t get around the paywall

 

[SCM]

I think it's a very good thing - my only concern would be any conflict of interest in terms of VA's other partners heading to Europe, I wouldn't want to sacrifice SQ or even EY for this, but I think an injection of funds would be great and allow them to maybe for example order some a330neos or something for the Japan route, as well as perhaps to dump people into Qatar for all connecting flights.

 

[p--and--t]

That’s because an American private equity firm is completely different from an autocratic state with unlimited oil funds that are capable of pulling whatever the hell they want to achieve their goals.

Hmm I seem to recall a private equity firm operating an airline in AU screwing over hundreds of Aussie people and trading while bankrupt in the press in recent days.

USA firms are as unscrupulous as firms from any country can be (James Hardy, Phillip Morris and hundreds of others)

 

[HS-TQE]

Also keeping in mind an Asian based Private Equity firm making moves behind the scenes on another airline operating in AU with recent management changes and recent Share Price concerns.

 

[Doctore1003]

"Sources also claim that at one point Singapore Airlines had been close to taking a stake in Virgin Australia, but that didn’t end up happening."

Qatar Airways Buying 25% Stake In Virgin Australia: Genius & Sneaky

Qatar Airways is buying a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, and with this, we'll see Virgin Australia launch long haul flights to Doha (DOH).

onemileatatime.com

 

[HS-TQE]

"Sources also claim that at one point Singapore Airlines had been close to taking a stake in Virgin Australia, but that didn’t end up happening."

Qatar Airways Buying 25% Stake In Virgin Australia: Genius & Sneaky

Qatar Airways is buying a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, and with this, we'll see Virgin Australia launch long haul flights to Doha (DOH).

onemileatatime.com

SQ are perennial Tyre Kickers and they usually end up as "Fake News" as per usual.

AFR reports that some of the "VA analysts had considered approaching Singapore Airlines but they did not show interest." So they had a different reporting approach from some of the bloggers.

 

[33kft]

Good luck to them, many have tried to eke out a modest profit in the AU aviation industry, and most have had a rough time of it. At worst, they'll be investing in keeping our ticket prices competitive.

 

[twinaisle]

You do seem to repeat yourself thread after thread after thread.

AFAIAA VA is 100% foreign owned currently, sure there may be a change in dynamic but 20% being sold to another foreigner is here nor there.

Might find a way to add sovereignty to one of the before take off or landing P.A's as it's mentioned so many times

 

[roby]

A better question would be what QF stands to gain in oneworld now that it's run by the Avios cartel? Can we see QF switching alliance?

 

[airlinemn]

20% to put it in simple terms is nothing more than a strategic stake. It simply guarantees the QR/VA agreement maintains its status quo. it does open a possibility of VA wet leasing some QR planes to double capacity to DOH. I wouldn’t think that is a high chance however.

 

[RSVKanga]

A better question would be what QF stands to gain in oneworld now that it's run by the Avios cartel? Can we see QF switching alliance?

Agreed, QR would likely use VA as weapon to bully QF out of OW before eventually admitting VA into OW, even with just a 20% stake. Since QR is 100% owned by an autocratic state with unlimited oil wealth, they can deploy whatever it takes to bully our national carrier out of the alliance and solidify its oryxworld agenda. Would certainly be odd as Virgin Atlantic is a SkyTeam member while Virgin Australia would be a member of oneworld.

Although QF has veto powers in OW. And QF leaving OW would be a significant blow to QF’s commercial image (since they’re a founding member whereas QR only barged in in 2013), and hence harmful to Australia’s image in the global economy as well. I know Qantas deeply regrets not vetoing QR’s application for OW in 2012 because they were a very small boutique airline at the time that didn’t even fly to Australia, but they’re making the same mistake even now with staying silent on QR’s sidekick Oman Air’s application.

 

[MooTime]

Agreed, QR would likely use VA as weapon to bully QF out of OW before eventually admitting VA into OW, even with just a 20% stake. Since QR is 100% owned by an autocratic state with unlimited oil wealth, they can deploy whatever it takes to bully our national carrier out of the alliance and solidify its oryxworld agenda. Would certainly be odd as Virgin Atlantic is a SkyTeam member while Virgin Australia would be a member of oneworld.

Although QF has veto powers in OW. And QF leaving OW would be a significant blow to QF’s commercial image (since they’re a founding member whereas QR only barged in in 2013), and hence harmful to Australia’s image in the global economy as well. I know Qantas deeply regrets not vetoing QR’s application for OW in 2012 because they were a very small boutique airline at the time that didn’t even fly to Australia, but they’re making the same mistake even now with staying silent on QR’s sidekick Oman Air’s application.

Agreed, QR would likely use VA as weapon to bully QF out of OW before eventually admitting VA into OW, even with just a 20% stake. Since QR is 100% owned by an autocratic state with unlimited oil wealth, they can deploy whatever it takes to bully our national carrier out of the alliance and solidify its oryxworld agenda. Would certainly be odd as Virgin Atlantic is a SkyTeam member while Virgin Australia would be a member of oneworld.

Although QF has veto powers in OW. And QF leaving OW would be a significant blow to QF’s commercial image (since they’re a founding member whereas QR only barged in in 2013), and hence harmful to Australia’s image in the global economy as well. I know Qantas deeply regrets not vetoing QR’s application for OW in 2012 because they were a very small boutique airline at the time that didn’t even fly to Australia, but they’re making the same mistake even now with staying silent on QR’s sidekick Oman Air’s application.

Use VA as a weapon....

QR to bully QF out of Oneworld......

And that autocratic oil something a rather.....

QF deeply regrets not veto QR how many years ago.....nice insider knowledge.

Better make a double or triple espresso, could be a long day of repeat posts.

Great news by QR to invest into VA, benefits to Aus flyers and VA flyers.

Like QF are concerned, they have their strategy, some in management would well n truly saw this scenario.

 

[SeaWolf]

our national carrier

You've said it a fifth time! The spirit of Vanessa Hudson appears behind you dangling the bloody Chairman's Lounge membership of a federal politician.

 

[BNEFlyer]

I know Qantas deeply regrets not vetoing QR’s application for OW in 2012 because they were a very small boutique airline at the time that didn’t even fly to Australia...

1. How do you know that? And 2, QR started flying to Australia in 2009, and in 2009 they had a fleet of 67 aircraft, not really "boutique" airline size.

 

[justinbrett]

20% to put it in simple terms is nothing more than a strategic stake. It simply guarantees the QR/VA agreement maintains its status quo.

It doesn’t even do that. If the other 80% want to go in a different direction QR doesn’t have a controlling share. QR would have a right to have a say through its allocated board seats but that doesn’t mean the rest have to comply.

 

[MooTime]

It doesn’t even do that. If the other 80% want to go in a different direction QR doesn’t have a controlling share. QR would have a right to have a say through its allocated board seats but that doesn’t mean the rest have to comply.

The remaining 80% or less will /likely to be free float.

 

[justinbrett]

The remaining 80% or less will /likely to be free float.

Regardless, 80% of board seats will not be held by QR.

 

[exceladdict]

A better question would be what QF stands to gain in oneworld now that it's run by the Avios cartel? Can we see QF switching alliance?

I would imagine it would come down to AA, and to a lesser extent AS/JL

The AAQF JV would need to be replaced or survive in any case