Qatar Airways ups stake in British Airways parent firm, IAG

Qatar Airways said Wednesday it has increased its share in parent company of British Airways, International Airlines Group, from 21.4 % to 25.1%.

IAG, which operates a number of or European carriers such as Ireland's Aer Lingus and Spain's Iberia, is one of world's largest airline groups, with 573 aircraft carrying around 118 million passengers a year. It is a Spanish registered company with shares tred on London and Spanish stock exchanges.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said decision to increase company's stake in IAG is a reflection of how successful its investment in European airline group has been to date.

Qatar's Doha-based national carrier is among biggest and fastest-growing airlines in Middle East, but its growth has been hampered over past two years by flight restrictions from three neighboring Gulf states and Egypt, which are locked in a political dispute with Qatar.

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