BA backer Qatar Airways lands £1.5bn state bailout

The Qatari state handed the biggest shareholder in the owner of British Airways a £1.5bn bailout before the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic were felt. Qatar Airways, which owns a 25pc stake in IAG, will issue the government of the gulf state new shares to cover losses for the year to March 2020. Chief executive Akbar Al Baker blamed “exceptional circumstances” for the airline’s worsening annual performance. The failure of Air Italy and writedowns associated with