Qatar Airways Dwindles Its Stake in Virgin Australia

‍DALLAS — Qatar Airways (QR) has reduced its ownership stake in Virgin Australia (VA).

According to a disclosure submitted to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on March 2, QR now holds fewer than 2% of the Australian airline's shares.

The document reveals that QR now controls 67.74 per cent of VA's voting rights, equating to 529,039,288 shares. This figure represents a decrease from QR's previous shareholding of 69.79 per cent, which totalled 545,783,569 shares.

Moreover, QR's reduction in shareholding follows a period of investment and strategic collaboration between the carriers.

Although the reasons for the adjustment to the shareholding structure are not yet known, the change is a notable development for the privately owned Australian carrier.

Reduced shareholding by Qatar Airways

The amended ownership structure could indeed be a sign of evolution in Virgin Australia’s shareholder composition.The adjustment could also suggest recalibrating QR's investment in VA.

Virgin Australia emerged from voluntary administration in 2020, backed by global private investment firm Bain Capital.

Qatar Airways took the opportunity to invest in the airline, becoming a significant shareholder as part of the restructuring process. VAis one of Australia's largest airlines, offering both local and international flights.