Qatar Airways Ends Cathay Pacific Investment with $8.9M Stake Sale

By Philomena Lanuza - November 11, 2025

Qatar Airways has decided to sell its entire stake in Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK), opens new tab for about $897 million (HK$6.97 billion), marking its complete exit from Hong Kong's flagship airline after eight years.

Cathay said late on Wednesday that the Doha-based carrier had approached it about selling its entire 9.7% stake, and it would repurchase the shareholding through a buyback at HK$10.8374 per share, roughly a 4% discount to its last closing share price.

The Gulf carrier had bought the stake in November 2017, making it the third-largest shareholder in Cathay after Swire Pacific (0019.HK), opens new tab and Air China (601111.SS).

Cathay is paying roughly a 35% premium over the price Qatar Airways originally paid for the stake to buy it back. The Hong Kong carrier said it would fund the deal through internal resources and existing credit lines.

Cathay was Qatar Airways' first major investment in an Asian airline and was aimed at boosting its global influence and increasing traffic through its Doha hub. There were no Qatar-nominated directors on Cathay's board, meaning it had little influence over the Swire Pacific-managed airline. Prior to Qatar Airways' investment, Cathay flew between Hong Kong and Qatar's Doha hub as part of a codeshare arrangement between 2014 and 2016, but the route was axed "for commercial reasons".

Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said the exit reflected the company's disciplined portfolio strategy and followed a period of strong results, allowing the company to optimise investments and position itself for long-term growth.

The Middle Eastern airline has pursued a strategy of investing in airlines worldwide to strengthen its competitive position, including in British Airways parent IAG (ICAG.L), opens new tab, South American carrier LATAM (LTM.SN), opens new tab and Virgin Australia (VGN.AX).

Cathay and Qatar Airways said they would continue their partnership through the oneworld Alliance.

Source: Reuters