Kingfisher, Jet eyeing SriLankan stake?

Dubai: Gulf carrier Qatar Airways and two Indian airlines, Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways, are likely contenders to pick up a stake in SriLankan Airlines, with whom Emirates ended its 10-year management contract on Sunday, according to sources close to the island nation carrier.
Emirates’ President Tim Clark had said on January 6 that the airline is open to the idea of selling in full or part its 43.6 per cent share in the airline for an estimated fair value of $150 million (Dh550.5m). “There are other airlines and parties [local conglomerates and multinational companies based in Sri Lanka] that are interested in buying a stake in SriLankan Airlines. Although there is no clear indication yet, we have heard that Qatar Airways and a couple of Indian carriers such as Jet and Kingfisher are supposed to be approaching the Sri Lankan Government,” the source told Emirates Business in a telephone interview from Sri Lanka.
Qatar Airways’ spokesperson, Salam Al Shawa, denied the report, saying: “The Doha-based carrier is not interested in picking up a stake in the airline.”
“I do not think we will have any objection to selling our stake in SriLankan to Qatar Airways if it would be keen, or anyone else who would be interested,” said Emirates President Tim Clark.
09/01/08 Shweta Jain/Emirates Business 24|7, UAE

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2008, Jet Airways Jan 2008, Kingfisher Jan 2008, New Jan 2008