Qatar Airways will groom Meridiana to be Italy's top national carrier

Doha

QATAR Airways will back Meridiana to be Italy's top airline, supplying it with wide and narrow bodied jets to help expand its network, the Middle East carrier's chief executive said on Saturday.

Qatar Airways announced on Thursday it had acquired a 49 per cent stake in Meridiana's new parent AQA Holding, with previous sole owner Alisarda retaining 51 per cent.