Qatar Airways has completed the acquisition of 10% of South
America's largest airline group, LATAM.
Qatar's investment in its One World alliance partner came
through an approximately $600 million purchase of newly subscribed LATAM
shares.
Qatar flies to 10 U.S. cities from its hub in Doha. LATAM
flies to Miami, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Orlando and New York. Its
primary hubs are in Sao Paulo; Bogota, Colombia; and Santiago, Chile.
In addition, LATAM and American have an application for
antitrust immunity pending with regulatory agencies in several countries
throughout the Americas. The carriers are seeking approval to jointly plan,
market and operate flights between North America and six South American
countries: Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Along with its new investment in LATAM, Qatar is a 20% owner
of IAG, the airline group that owns British Airways, Spanish carriers Iberia
and Vueling, and Ireland's Aer Lingus.