Last checked at 
* Qatari airline in talks to by RwandAir stake
* Interested in lifting LATAM stake for the "right price"
* Open to work with Delta Air Lines
(Adds details, quotes)
By Alexander Cornwell
DOHA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways is in talks to buy a
49% stake in Africa's RwandAir, and is interested in doubling
its holding in LATAM Airlines Group to 20%, its chief
executive said on Wednesday.
A stake in an African airline would widen its reach in one
of the world's fastest growing aviation regions, and potentially
help it bypass restrictions imposed on it by some Arab states.
"We are very tough negotiators ... we will take our time to
negotiate," Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker told
reporters in Doha.
Qatar Airways already owns stakes in British Airways-parent
International Airlines Group, China Southern
, Cathay Pacific, and LATAM.
It bought some of its stakes in other airlines since
once-lucrative markets the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
banned it from its airspace following a regional political
dispute.
Qatar Airways has been forced to fly longer routes to avoid
the blocked airspace of some of its neighbours.
The ban does not apply to non-Qatari airlines flying to
Qatar. RwandAir could potentially carry passengers from Africa
over the blocked airspace to the state-owned airline's Doha hub
without any airspace restrictions.
RwandAir could not be immediately reached for comment.
Qatar Airways agreed in December to take a 60% stake in a
new airport in Rwanda.
Baker, one of aviation's most well-know executives, also
said the airline could be interested in increasing its holding
in LATAM, and working with fellow shareholder Delta Air Lines.
"When the right opportunity comes and at the right price we
will look at increasing our investment in LATAM," he told
Reuters.
Qatar Airways, which holds a 10% stake, would be interested
in having a stake that is the "same like Delta," which is 20%,
he said.
Delta surprised the industry when it announced in September
it was taking a $1.9 billion 20% stake in the South American
airline group.
Qatar Airways has historically had a contentious
relationship with Delta and other major U.S. carriers, which
have accused Gulf airlines of receiving unfair government
subsidies, distorting competition and costing Americans jobs.
The Gulf carriers have rejected such accusations.
However, Baker said had no ill-feeling towards Delta, and
was willing to work with the U.S. airline at its hub in Atlanta.
"We can transfer passengers on each other. We are the only
Middle Eastern carrier going into their hub so there is huge
opportunity," he said.
Qatar Airways has also expressed interest in taking a stake
in India's IndiGo and Morocco's Royal Air Maroc. A transaction
with either airline has yet to take place.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell
Editing by Peter Graff)
