Southwest would buy assets off US Air/Delta -WSJ
NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has told Delta Air Lines and US Airways Group it would buy any assets they sell if they merged, according to a report on Monday.
US Airways made an unwanted $8 billion bid for Delta last week. Delta, which has operated under bankruptcy protection since September 2005, said it aims to emerge from Chapter 11 as a standalone airline.
Southwest assumes a deal has a "decent chance of actually happening," according to a report on the Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said if the bid were to proceed, US Airways and Delta would have to sell some assets to address antitrust concerns, according to the report.
Southwest wants to buy any aircraft and airport gates put up for sale, especially on the U.S. East Coast, and it has told Delta and US Airways of its interest, the report said.
"We can certainly understand the interest in Delta's assets," Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton told Reuters. "However, there are no Delta assets for sale."
Southwest and US Airways could not be immediately reached for comment.
NEW YORK, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has told Delta Air Lines and US Airways Group it would buy any assets they sell if they merged, according to a report on Monday.
US Airways made an unwanted $8 billion bid for Delta last week. Delta, which has operated under bankruptcy protection since September 2005, said it aims to emerge from Chapter 11 as a standalone airline.
Southwest assumes a deal has a "decent chance of actually happening," according to a report on the Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said if the bid were to proceed, US Airways and Delta would have to sell some assets to address antitrust concerns, according to the report.
Southwest wants to buy any aircraft and airport gates put up for sale, especially on the U.S. East Coast, and it has told Delta and US Airways of its interest, the report said.
"We can certainly understand the interest in Delta's assets," Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton told Reuters. "However, there are no Delta assets for sale."
Southwest and US Airways could not be immediately reached for comment.