London: British Airways parent IAG SA and its largest shareholder Qatar Airways agreed to set up a joint venture that will see them code-share on flights linking dozens of destinations while operating a joint timetable and sharing revenue and costs on services between London and Doha.
The agreement, which comes into effect on Oct. 30, will see British Airways attach its code to Qatar flights beyond Doha to destinations in countries including India, Ethiopia, Iraq and Vietnam, with the Gulf carrier doing likewise on the UK airline’s operations to cities across the UK and continental Europe.
The companies said Wednesday they’ll also code-share on their flights between Britain and Qatar, including seven daily trips between London and Doha, which will essentially become joint services, though regulatory approval is generally required in order to operate joint timetables and set common fares.
Qatar Airways last month lifted its IAG holding to 20 per cent, taking advantage of a slump in London-based group’s share price following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. Qatar first took a stake last year after its Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker became close to IAG counterpart Willie Walsh, who had backed the Gulf carrier’s bid to join the Oneworld global alliance.
The agreement will mean “easier journeys with better aligned schedules, more frequencies and improved flight transfers,” Walsh said in a statement.
