(Reuters) -Qatar Airways plans to buy a 25% stake in Australia's No. 2 airline Virgin Australia from U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital, the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday. The purchase of the minority stake for an undisclosed amount will serve as a cornerstone investment ahead of an anticipated return of Virgin Australia into public ownership,

(Reuters) -Qatar Airways intends to acquire a 25% minority stake in carrier Virgin Australia from private equity firm Bain Capital, the parties said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Qatar Airways plans to take a 25% stake in Australia’s Virgin Australia Airlines Pty, expanding the Gulf carrier’s global network of equity holdings.

Qatar Airways will buy a 25% stake in Australia's No. 2 airline Virgin Australia from U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital, the companies said on Tuesday, as the Gulf carrier looks for access into Australian routes that the government denied last year.

He loves to work with and for airlines, including Qantas and Virgin Australia. Qatar Airways has announced plans to buy a 25% minority stake in Virgin Australia from its owner, US private equity firm Bain Capital.

Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal that could shake up Australia's Qantas-dominated market.

The Australian's Associate Editor Eric Johnston says Qantas faces a “competitive threat” following Qatar’s plans to buy a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia.