Confirmed: Sir Michael Bishop sells bmi to Lufthansa !!!
Nov 3, 2008, 2:44 am
#376
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...could lead to a full-scale German raid
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5061705.ece
The Times perspective on the situation - and the various options.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle5061705.ece
The Times perspective on the situation - and the various options.
Nov 3, 2008, 8:10 pm
#377
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I'm on track to make Silver, so this is welcome news.
For those who've seen this kind of thing before... is it likely that one's DC renewal date might be extended at all once the LH takeover is complete? I'm just wondering if it's worth trying to attain silver sooner rather than later (now based within striking distance of BUF, so UA should offer plenty of possibilities).
For those who've seen this kind of thing before... is it likely that one's DC renewal date might be extended at all once the LH takeover is complete? I'm just wondering if it's worth trying to attain silver sooner rather than later (now based within striking distance of BUF, so UA should offer plenty of possibilities).
Also a silver who does about 20,000 miles per year,Dub-LHR, what will this get me in terms of lounge access if LH M&M does indeed replace Diamond Club.
Nov 4, 2008, 1:22 am
#378
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DUB-LHR earns 938 miles including Executive Bonus with M&M in booking class E H K M O Q V W (1563 miles in booking class B S Y, 156 miles in booking class G N T). You will need 19 DUB-LHR mid-price economy return flights in a calendar year every 2 years to retain your Silver status with M&M.
Nov 4, 2008, 7:43 pm
#379
Join Date: Jul 2005
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DUB-LHR earns 938 miles including Executive Bonus with M&M in booking class E H K M O Q V W (1563 miles in booking class B S Y, 156 miles in booking class G N T). You will need 19 DUB-LHR mid-price economy return flights in a calendar year every 2 years to retain your Silver status with M&M.
Tks ^
Nov 14, 2008, 3:34 am
#380
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Nov 20, 2008, 4:47 am
#381
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BmiBaby probably for sale after takeover, hints LH
The heaviest hint yet that Baby would be for sale after January. Makes sense, I suppose.
It would be nice if some of the routes might be converted to mainline, if not with the same aircraft then perhaps with regional. Manchester-Belfast and some of the Birmingham routes such as Madrid, Lisbon, Milan and Warsaw spring to mind.
It would be nice if some of the routes might be converted to mainline, if not with the same aircraft then perhaps with regional. Manchester-Belfast and some of the Birmingham routes such as Madrid, Lisbon, Milan and Warsaw spring to mind.
Originally Posted by REUTERS
FRANKFURT/NEW DELHI, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Deutsche Lufthansa would consider selling bmi's low-cost carrier, bmibaby, after it takes over a majority stake of the company early next year, Chief Financial Officer Stephan Gemkow said on Wednesday.
"The UK low-cost carrier's sale is an option that is on the table. It is not part of Lufthansa's core business," he told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a trip to India with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The German flagship carrier last month made a move on Britain's bmi, saying the airline's founder, Michael Bishop, had exercised an option requiring Lufthansa to buy his 50 percent plus one share stake in bmi.
The move would raise Lufthansa's stake in the carrier to about 80 percent and would give it access to bmi's billion-euro slots at Heathrow airport. Gemkow said the company had not yet decided whether to sell the landing slots.
Lufthansa has been leading the pack in European airline consolidation and is currently the exclusive bidder for state-controlled, loss-making Austrian Airlines. A deal is expected within a month.
"It is still a bit too early to talk about a completion," Gemkow said.
He brushed off speculation, however, that Lufthansa may be unwilling to make a bid for the free float shares in Austrian Airlines, citing European legislation.
Talking about Alitalia, the Italian carrier that may be up for grabs, Gemkow said the situation in Italy was "very intransparent."
"I know neither the business plan nor the balance sheets of the new Alitalia," he said.
Alitalia is currently being bought by a an Italian investor group that will relaunch the airline and likely name either Lufthansa or Air France-KLM as a strategic partner.
(Reporting by Hans-Edzard Busemann; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Simon Jessop)
"The UK low-cost carrier's sale is an option that is on the table. It is not part of Lufthansa's core business," he told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a trip to India with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The German flagship carrier last month made a move on Britain's bmi, saying the airline's founder, Michael Bishop, had exercised an option requiring Lufthansa to buy his 50 percent plus one share stake in bmi.
The move would raise Lufthansa's stake in the carrier to about 80 percent and would give it access to bmi's billion-euro slots at Heathrow airport. Gemkow said the company had not yet decided whether to sell the landing slots.
Lufthansa has been leading the pack in European airline consolidation and is currently the exclusive bidder for state-controlled, loss-making Austrian Airlines. A deal is expected within a month.
"It is still a bit too early to talk about a completion," Gemkow said.
He brushed off speculation, however, that Lufthansa may be unwilling to make a bid for the free float shares in Austrian Airlines, citing European legislation.
Talking about Alitalia, the Italian carrier that may be up for grabs, Gemkow said the situation in Italy was "very intransparent."
"I know neither the business plan nor the balance sheets of the new Alitalia," he said.
Alitalia is currently being bought by a an Italian investor group that will relaunch the airline and likely name either Lufthansa or Air France-KLM as a strategic partner.
(Reporting by Hans-Edzard Busemann; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Simon Jessop)
Nov 20, 2008, 5:04 am
#382
Join Date: Mar 2007
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I've been thinking about the state of Baby for on and off, and maybe a "Regional plus"* service is the way to go here, shedding off the leisure routes to FlyEasyRyan2JetAirWings **, whilst tightening up the business/high yield routes.
To further maintain the illusion of a full sized/full service airline, redeploy some of the A319 fleet onto these routes - or dread the thought, order some E-170/190 series aircraft thus allowing to use the word "investment" in a press release.
But first things first - whatever they do with Baby, they're going to have to get shot of those gas guzzling 737-300/500's...
However, selling the LHR slots - surely even in this climate that would be akin to killing the goose that laid the golden egg?
* I claim responsibility for the name
- I'll take the miles and skip the free flights in licensing rights
** That's as many LCC's I could think of...
To further maintain the illusion of a full sized/full service airline, redeploy some of the A319 fleet onto these routes - or dread the thought, order some E-170/190 series aircraft thus allowing to use the word "investment" in a press release.
But first things first - whatever they do with Baby, they're going to have to get shot of those gas guzzling 737-300/500's...
However, selling the LHR slots - surely even in this climate that would be akin to killing the goose that laid the golden egg?
* I claim responsibility for the name
- I'll take the miles and skip the free flights in licensing rights ** That's as many LCC's I could think of...
Nov 20, 2008, 12:41 pm
#383
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OT - Question - looking for thread on future of this forum
No, the BMI forum will become a sub-forum of M&M, to be hidden away like the Swiss forum. 
Nov 20, 2008, 1:28 pm
#384
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Slightly OT, but who was the FT member, standing for Talkboard that said they'd move the bmi forum to a sub-M&M forum if they were elected? I've been searching for their post for a while now but can't find it! And I need to make my vote tomorrow evening and I don't want to risk voting for sometihing I don't agree with...
Nov 20, 2008, 1:39 pm
#385
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Nov 20, 2008, 1:51 pm
#386
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I don't know which candidate it is because I haven't read their spiels but it must have been in answer to Q.10 in this thread.
Nov 20, 2008, 2:00 pm
#387
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Thank you all. I've voted...so no turning back now!
I did read Q.10, which I initially thought was a reasonable answer, but it isn't mentioned there. I am confident it was in this bmi forum, I just couldn't find it again. Perhaps it was editted out...
Anyway, I wouldn't want this to turn into a witch hunt - everyone's entitled to their views...and it's to late now anyway!
I did read Q.10, which I initially thought was a reasonable answer, but it isn't mentioned there. I am confident it was in this bmi forum, I just couldn't find it again. Perhaps it was editted out...
Anyway, I wouldn't want this to turn into a witch hunt - everyone's entitled to their views...and it's to late now anyway!
Nov 20, 2008, 3:09 pm
#388
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Dec 6, 2008, 12:03 pm
#390
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Lufthansa not seeking to sell BMI assets
Apologies if this rather old news has been mentioned already.
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited...fx5745301.html
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited...fx5745301.html
MALPENSA AIRPORT, Italy, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Lufthansa Chief Executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber speaking at a press conference on Wednesday:
* says not actively seeking to sell parts of its subsidiary BMI
...
* says not actively seeking to sell parts of its subsidiary BMI
...