SAir confirms Delta deal ends, AA talks deepen
ZURICH, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Swissair parent SAirGroup on Wednesday confirmed that its transatlantic alliance with Delta Air Lines would be disbanded with effect from August 2000.
SAirGroup also said in a statement that its talks with American Airlines on deeper cooperation were at a very advanced stage. "Beginning at the end of this month, both Swissair and Sabena are planning to
introduce code-share flights together with American Airlines on North Atlantic routes," it said.
"We are in talks on the partnership with American Airlines. The talks are at a very advanced stage, but there has been no formal signing yet," a Swissair spokesman told Reuters, adding that a deal was expected within the next few weeks.
Sabena remains a Swissair partner through the Qualiflyer airline alliance, but Austrian announced lastmonth that it was quitting Qualiflyer to join the Lufthansa-led Star Alliance.
Atlantic Excellence will cease to exist from August 2000, the spokesman said.
He also confirmed that SAirGroup still held its 4.6 percent stake in Delta, but continued to plan to sell the shares. Delta said earlier this month that it had sold all of its 525,000 shares in SAirGroup
