Apparently QR is interested in purchasing a 49% stake in Rwandair.
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/18...b2T_NuFABBqEzk
This made me think: As many will know, the Ethiopian government is planning to sell a minority stake in Ethiopian Airlines amongst other Ethiopian government owned entities. Though you may not be able to find too much recent dated information about this online, it is a topic frequently mentioned in local newspapers in Ethiopia.
See e.g. this:
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...opian-airlines
Who do you think will be more likely to purchase a share (e.g. 49%) in Ethiopian airlines?
1) A gulf carrier with loads of money sitting in the bank?
2) A partner that already works closely with ET? (Lufthansa?)
3) A private equity fund or someone else not from the aviation sector.
4) The Chinese? (They already own half of Africa, literally - and even more true when it comes to Ethiopia)
5) The Nigerian government? (And at the same time let ET set up a base in Nigeria, as they've tried for years)
I personally think a bid from LH would make a lot of sense.
And who do you absolutely not think the buyer will be? I have a few guesses for this also
- QR (if they purchase a stake in Rwandair)
- Anything KL/KQ related, they are head to head in competition and very much focused on NBO as base for everything in Africa.
- SAA - they can hardly keep themselves afloat. Same goes for EY?
- The Ethiopian public. The ET government needs to raise foreign currency.