Qatar Airways is among potential suitors looking to nab a stake in state-owned Air Mauritius, and is said to have emerged as a preferred bidder, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. The Mauritian government is preparing to sell a non-controlling 49% of its national air carrier as it looks to support tourism and shore up its finances. Bidding is due to open next week, one person told the business information service.

What’s in it for Qatar Airways: Investing in the airline would give Doha long-sought access to the Indian Ocean destination, which drew 1.38 mn visitors in 2024 and expects 1.4 mn this year. Gross tourist receipts amounted to USD 2 bn. Air Mauritius has a fleet of about a dozen aircraft, and serves destinations including Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, London, and Johannesburg.

Is a hostile takeover unfolding? Air Mauritius Chairman Kishore Beegoo thinks that selling to Qatar Airways would be a strategic error with serious consequences for the country, he told local news site Defimedia.info earlier this month.

Qatar’s bid may ruffle some feathers: Its regional rival Emirates is meanwhile tightening its grip on the luxury tourism market with a third daily flight to the island, making Qatar’s push a direct challenge. Some Mauritian officials warn that bringing in Qatar could strain the flag carrier’s close partnership with the Dubai-based airline, reflecting a deeper rivalry over market access. Mauritius is a small but lucrative luxury hub and Emirates is already entrenched; while Qatar, shut out until now, sees a stake as its way in.

REFRESHER- Qatar’s been busy expanding its global footprint: In the past year alone, the carrier secured final approval for its acquisition of a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, snapped up 25% of South Africa’s Airlink, and moved closer to a long-delayed 49% acquisition of RwandAir. The airline is also the largest shareholder of International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, and holds roughly 10% of Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways and Latam Airlines Group, Bloomberg wrote.

IN OTHER M&A UPDATES

DHL eCommerce finalized its acquisition of a minority stake in Saudi Arabia-based AJEX Logistics Services, it said in a press release. Information about the size and value of the transaction wasn’t made public. The partnership gives DHL a direct foothold in the Kingdom’s parcel delivery market, while Ajlan & Bros Holding Group-owned AJEX gains access to DHL’s global e-commerce network. The agreement also grants DHL representation on the management board, while giving it the option to lift its holding to a majority stake further down the line.

ICYMI- DHL first disclosed plans for the investment earlier this year, without revealing financial terms. AJEX has been busy expanding its regional footprint, clinching storage space in nearby Bahrain last year, as well as partnering with Turkish Airlines subsidiary logistics firm Widect to cooperate on e-commerce shipping and last-mile solutions.

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