Qatar Airways (QR, Doha International (DOH)) through its CEO, Akbar Al Baker, says it is “not interested” in purchasing a 12% stake in the International Airlines Group (IAG) currently held by Spain's nationalized lender, Bankia. The news comes after The Financial Times recently reported that the state of Qatar had sounded out IAG, the owner of British Airways (BA, London Heathrow (LHR)), Vueling Airlines (VY, Barcelona El Prat International (BCN)) and Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas (MAD)), with an informal offer to become the company's largest shareholder by buying the 12% stake held by Bankia. Al Baker also said he was “not aware” that any other Qatari entity had an interest in the Bankia stake. “Any other entity will not get into any kind of discussion in an airline, or an airline stake, without asking Qatar Airways,” said Al Baker. Qatar already has a prominent investment in UK aviation after Qatar Holding, an investment arm of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, last year agreed to buy a 20% stake in Heathrow airport Holdings, the owner of London Heathrow (LHR), for GBP900million. Akbar Al Baker is one of two Qatari representatives on the Heathrow board.

Vueling Airlines (VY, Barcelona El Prat International (BCN)) is to be taken over by the International Airlines Group (IAG) after shareholders in the Spanish low-cost carrier overwhelmingly voted in favour of selling their shares to the group in a deal worth EUR 123.5million. Following the Vueling board's recommendation to back IAG’s bid, 82.48% of shareholders have now accepted the deal, giving the group 90.15% control of Vueling. IAG already owned 45.85% of the airline through its subsidiary Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas (MAD)). Under the deal, Vueling will operate as a standalone company within IAG, maintaining its current structure with its chief executive Alex Cruz reporting to IAG chief executive Willie Walsh. The completion of the acquisition is due on April 26, 2013.

Vueling Airlines (VY, Barcelona El Prat International (BCN)) is set to become the first Low Cost Carrier to start flights to Belarus when its launches a once weekly Barcelona El Prat International (BCN) to Minsk International 2 (MSQ) service for the duration of summer (June 15 to September 15). In late 2012, lamenting the fact that no LCCs had expressed any interest in serving the Eastern European state, Belorussian authorities announced that Belavia (B2, Minsk International 2 (MSQ)) would proceed with plans to develop its own "LCC/hybrid airline", though as of April 2013, nothing tangible has yet been seen.

Vueling Airlines (VY, Barcelona El Prat International (BCN)) has recommended its shareholders accept an improved offer of EUR 9.25 per share made by the International Airlines Group (IAG), having rejected a prior offer of EUR 7 per share. Should the buy-in be endorsed, it will see IAG take on a controlling stake in the Spanish LCC, in whom it currently owns 45.85%. Reuters suggests that IAG, parent company to British Airways (BA, London Heathrow (LHR)) and Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas (MAD)), “could use Vueling to boost its short-haul business and compete with cheaper operators.” Vueling's current route network extends throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and North and West Africa.

DAT - Danish Air Transport (DX, Kolding Vamdrup (EKVD)) has started operating its MD-83 (OY-RUE / MSN 49936) and MD-87 (OY-JRU / MSN 49403) on behalf of Vueling Airlines (VY, Barcelona El Prat International (BCN)) owing to the latter's lack of sufficient aircraft to cope with its rapidly expanding network. The aircraft have been based at Vueling's hub in Barcelona since March 20, and serve as standby aircraft for the Spanish LCC. DAT's director Jesper Rungholm, expects the wet-lease to run until April.