Qatar gives Adria the cold shoulder

Qatar Airways not interested in Adria

The CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, has said that his company will not be taking over 49% of shares from Adria Airways, “Bloomberg” reports. The CEOs of the two companies met in Doha recently to discuss the possible partnership. However, Al Baker now says that he wants Qatar Airways to concentrate on its own business and expand its fleet and destination network.

Adria will now have to look elsewhere for a future partner. Lufthansa has also expressed interest in Adria Airways according to the Slovenian “Finance” portal. However, Lufthansa would face significant scrutiny if it purchased Adria shares as it would have to face the European Commission’s anti monopoly body. The German national carrier was recently forced to give up frequencies on certain routes from Vienna, London and Brussels after it purchased Austrian, Brussels Airlines and BMI. Some of these frequencies went to Adria.

Like all other national carriers in the EX-YU region, Adria will end 2010 with significant financial losses. The Slovenian Government wants to sell the company’s shares as early as the first half of 2011.