Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) is set to acquire a 25% stake in Moscow Vnukovo Airport for an undisclosed sum. According to Interfax, airline chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said on Monday that the deal is expected to be concluded within the next eight weeks.
The current owners of the airport are the Federal Agency for State Property Management (Rosimuschestvo) and private investors - businessman Vitaly Vantsev and his partners. At the end of 2016, they signed a framework agreement for the consolidation of the airport's assets, according to which Rosimuschestvo was to receive 25.1% while the private investors would hold 74.9%.
Although the report did not disclose from which party Qatar Airways would acquire its equity, Rosimuschestvo has said it has no plans to dispose of its shareholding.
Vnukovo's key market is the CIS with the bulk of its connectivity directed at Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. It also offers flights throughout Western Europe, North Africa, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia. Qatar Airways does not currently serve the facility.
Through the Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar already owns 25% of Thalita Trading Ltd., the parent firm of the Northern Capital Gateway LLC consortium, which has the 30-year concession to operate St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport.
