MiAAmi
Veteran
Reuters
BA would look at American again after any KLM deal
Sunday October 5, 8:24 am ET
LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - British Airways Plc (London:BAY.L - News) said on Sunday it would look again at a long-sought merger plan with American Airlines (NYSE:AMR - News) if regulators cleared a takeover of Dutch carrier KLM (Amsterdam:KLM.AS - News) by Air France (Paris:AIRF.PA - News).
ADVERTISEMENT
"Is it something that we'd look at? I suppose it is," a BA spokesman said, but played down the idea that a revival of BA/AA tie-up negotiations would happen any time soon.
BA said last week regulators in Brussels should ensure an Air France-KLM deal did not reduce competition, especially across the North Atlantic -- lucrative routes for BA.
BA and American have had plans for a virtual merger on transatlantic routes blocked in the past by regulators demanding the two airlines give up hundreds of valuable takeoff and landing slots at London's Heathrow airport.
But the spokesman said BA's main focus at the moment was on its restructuring. Europe's biggest airline said on Friday it had not yet reached its target of 13,000 job cuts despite setting a September deadline.
Britain's Observer newspaper reported on Sunday that BA might revive merger talks with American if regulators approved a KLM-Air France deal.
BA said last week Spain's Iberia (Madrid:IBLA.MC - News) was its preferred partner in any European industry consolidation.
BA would look at American again after any KLM deal
Sunday October 5, 8:24 am ET
LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - British Airways Plc (London:BAY.L - News) said on Sunday it would look again at a long-sought merger plan with American Airlines (NYSE:AMR - News) if regulators cleared a takeover of Dutch carrier KLM (Amsterdam:KLM.AS - News) by Air France (Paris:AIRF.PA - News).
ADVERTISEMENT
"Is it something that we'd look at? I suppose it is," a BA spokesman said, but played down the idea that a revival of BA/AA tie-up negotiations would happen any time soon.
BA said last week regulators in Brussels should ensure an Air France-KLM deal did not reduce competition, especially across the North Atlantic -- lucrative routes for BA.
BA and American have had plans for a virtual merger on transatlantic routes blocked in the past by regulators demanding the two airlines give up hundreds of valuable takeoff and landing slots at London's Heathrow airport.
But the spokesman said BA's main focus at the moment was on its restructuring. Europe's biggest airline said on Friday it had not yet reached its target of 13,000 job cuts despite setting a September deadline.
Britain's Observer newspaper reported on Sunday that BA might revive merger talks with American if regulators approved a KLM-Air France deal.
BA said last week Spain's Iberia (Madrid:IBLA.MC - News) was its preferred partner in any European industry consolidation.