Qatar Airways announced that it has entered into an MOU with Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, Russia’s third-largest airport, to potentially acquire up to 25 % of the airport’s total shares. The signing ceremony took place recently at the Oryx Rotana Hotel in Doha.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, signed the MOU along withVnukovo International Airport JSC Chairman of the Board Vitaly Vantsev. The signing took place in the presence of Deputy General Commerce for Vnukovo International Airport Anton Kuznetsov.

Al Baker said he was very pleased to announce the potential acquisition of up to 25% of Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport.

Such an investment will complement the strong ties we have already established with the country, since the launch of our direct services to St Petersburg late last year, as well as our triple-daily flights to Moscow. All our investments are part of our existing expansion strategy, through which we aim to be able to bring even more people together from all parts of the globe.’

Chairman of the Board of Vnukovo International Airport, Vitaly Vantsev, said that the MOU could establish a foundation for productive partnership between Qatar Airways,  and Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.

Vnukovo International nowadays boasts the best transport accessibility and most advanced, cutting-edge airport infrastructure in Russia, enabling the Airport’s consistently impressive passenger growth performance nationwide. This gives me every confidence that our potential partnership will be mutually beneficial and good for all concerned, through further synergies it will be creating for each partner, enabling further growth.’

This potential investment supports the award-winning airline’s investment strategy, which already includes 20% investment in International Airlines Group, 10% investment in LATAM Airlines Group, 9.94% investment in Cathay Pacific and 49% investment in Air Italy.

Qatar Airways recently announced that it has become the General Partner of Cosmoscow, the International Contemporary Art Fair event that unites the contemporary Russian art market and helps its contributors establish contacts with the international art community. This collaboration is one of many between the State of Qatar and Russia, who are this year celebrating the Year of Culture. The airline operates daily flights to Moscow and St Petersburg.

For more information about Qatar Airways, visit their website at qatarairways.com