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Lufthansa linked to two more airlines
05.01.09
The takeover of much of the European airline industry by the continent's biggest carrier seemed to move ahead today as separate reports linked German giant Lufthansa with bids for SAS of Scandinavia and Italy's Alitalia.
Lufthansa recently took control of Britain's bmi —Heathrow's second biggest carrier — and has already taken over Swiss and Brussels Airlines and is in negotiations with Austrian Airlines.
Now executives at the German carrier have fuelled the belief they are stalking SAS. It shares surged after Lufthansa executive Karsten Bentz said: “After the German and Italian markets, Scandinavia is one of the most important for Lufthansa.”
He said talks with SAS were “ongoing” adding: “We wish to be active in the consolidation under way of the European aviation business, and that is an item discussed by the Lufthansa board.”
Lufthansa knows SAS well since they are both members of the Star Alliance.
Separately, the Italian press reported Lufthansa may bid for the troubled Alitalia. That would offer a conundrum for competition watchdogs since the only viable counter-bidder would be the giant combine, Air France-KLM.
