Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to take a 49% shareholding in UK-based Alpha Airport Group subsidiary Alpha Flight Services Australia.

The equity stake is part of an agreement through which Alpha Flight Services Australia will provide catering to Emirates' Australian services from January next year.

Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. Alpha Airports Group chief executive Peter Williams says the arrangement will bring "substantial benefit" to both companies.

Alpha Flight Services has nine stations across Australia including catering operations at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Its customers include Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, British Airways and Air New Zealand.