Qatar Airways (owned by the government of Qatar) will sign an agreement with Vnukovo airport about interest in buying 25% of the airport, general director of Qatar Airways Akbar al-Baker told a press conference in Moscow. He hopes to agree on the details within eight weeks and then sign a purchase agreement (quotation on "Interfax"). On the conclusion of the agreement on Vnukovo reported on Monday and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, handed over to RIA Novosti.

The agreement will be signed during the visit to Russia of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, today he is to meet with President Vladimir Putin.

International Airport Vnukovo - the third largest passenger airport in Moscow and Russia, in 2017, took 18.14 million passengers. The blocking stake of Vnukovo belongs to the state in the person of the Federal Property Management Agency, private investors Nikolay Skoch and chairman of the board of directors of Vnukovo Vitaly Vantsev own 82% and 18% respectively. Financial indicators of Vnukovo are not disclosed.

Qatar Investment Authority Qatar Investment Authority owns 25% of the company "Air Gate of the Northern Capital" - the concessionaire of Pulkovo Airport, the fourth in terms of passenger traffic in the country.

 Who can sell Vnukovo shares is unknown. According to the president's decree on consolidating the assets of the airport, at least 25% plus one share should remain with the Federal Property Management Agency. "Vedomosti" sent inquiries to private shareholders of the airport.

Plans to sell the state package "Vnukovo" is not yet, says the representative of the Federal Property Management Agency.

In 2016, for consolidation, all Vnukovo was valued at 20 billion rubles. Vancev told Vedomosti earlier. The assessment was carried out in a very unsuccessful year for the aviation industry: for the first time in many years passenger traffic decreased by 3.8%, traffic of Vnukovo in 2016 fell by 11.8% to 13.9 million people.

Qatar Airways transported 32 million people in the financial year 2017. It actively invests in foreign assets, it owns 10% of the largest South American airline LATAM, over 20% of IAG (owns carriers British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling), 9.9% Hong Kong Cathay Pacific, 49% of the second Italian carrier Meridiana.

 She was considering buying 10% of the largest airline in the world by American Airlines. Qatar Airways has not yet purchased aircraft, but al-Baker also heads Hamad International Airport (owned by the Qatar government), which is a hub for Qatar Airways.

Buying 25% of Vnukovo would be the largest foreign investment in the airport industry. Singapore Changi owns 30% of the holding company "Basel aero" (it unites Krasnodar, Sochi, Anapa and Gelendzhik airports) and 33% of Vladivostok airport.