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Middle eastern carrier Qatar Airways has announced an investment for a minority stake American private aviation company JetSuite and indirectly into JetSuite X the companies scheduled regional service. Qatar is the second airline to invest in the company after JetBlue.
Qatar has been investing in foreign airlines over the past few years, they have a 20% stake in IAG (British Airways and Iberia), a 49% stake in Meridiana (which is being rebranded as Air Italy), a 10% stake in LATAM and are planning to acquire 10% in Cathay Pacific.
Qatar airways had expressed interest in buying a stake in American airlines however that deal fell through. In January the Qatar stated that they have been offered a 25% stake by a startup US airline. It is unclear if the JetSuite investment is the same startup airline that was referred to.
JetSuite is private jet charter company which offers charter services with different types of aircraft. The company also offers scheduled services through its JetSuite X subsidiary that operated Embraer 135’s in a 30 seat configuration.
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to invest in such unique business as JetSuite and JetSuiteX; we believe that both businesses are complementary to Qatar Airways’ business and maintain the core values and customer focus of our own business. We believe that JetSuite and JetSuiteX deliver a truly class-leading service to the U.S. market with a huge potential for development, and we are very excited to invest in this opportunity alongside JetBlue and the other investors.”
Alex Wilcox, Founder and CEO of JetSuite and JetSuiteX
“As an innovator in private aviation, we are proud to have attracted the attention of one of the world’s highest rated and fastest growing airlines, Qatar Airways shares our focus on customers and product. JetBlue and Qatar Airways together are a dream team of investors, and they will allow us to execute our vision of offering a superior service to the forgotten short haul U.S. air market even more quickly.”
Robin Hayes, President and CEO, JetBlue
“JetSuite’s innovative JetSuiteX service and customer-focused approach aligns perfectly with our values at JetBlue, which is why we are so pleased that our partners at Qatar Airways are joining us in supporting this venture, We look forward to seeing JetSuite further grow on the West Coast and beyond to bring additional air travel choices to customers in underserved markets.”
