Based in London, Alan is Europe & Middle East correspondent at Air Transport World.
A daily newspaper journalist in the UK and Middle East for 15 years, he then joined the UK's most successful corporate publishing company before setting up his own company in 2004. He has worked with ATW since 2014.
Qatar Holding has purchased a 20% stake in UK airports operator BAA. According to the company, the transaction is conditional upon approval by EU competition authorities. If approved, the deal is expected to close by year end. The fund has acquired the stake in PGP Topco, the consortium formed by Spanish infrastructure conglomerate Ferrovial to buy BAA in 2006, for £900 million ($1.35 billion), valuing BAA at £4.5 billion. The shares come from three members of the consortium.
Etihad Airways (EY) and Alitalia (AZ) will step up their 2009 codeshare agreement with direct Abu Dhabi (AUH)-Rome Fiumicino (FCO) flights from Dec. 1.
