Confirmed: Sir Michael Bishop sells bmi to Lufthansa !!!
Dec 18, 2008, 3:29 am
#436
Join Date: Mar 2007
Programs: A3*G, AB-G, Hilton Gold, Marroit Silver
Posts: 121
Has anyone else noted that LH seem to talk more openly about the Austrian and Brussels integration than they do about the bmi one... would make the more cynical observer question whether they intend to actually integrate bmi at all, or break up and off load it...
http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=15063
Lufthansa targets European network
Thursday December 18, 2008
Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber told ATWOnline recently that acquisition of Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines is a "logical step" toward creating a pan-European network.
Speaking at Star Alliance's annual board meeting in Chicago, Mayrhuber said LH is targeting further consolidation. "From the LH management perspective, we can do more," he told this website. "What we have already done is no surprise."
He declined to say whether LH will bid for either SAS Group (ATWOnline, Nov. 13) or LOT Polish Airlines (ATWOnline, Dec. 15), but said the company's goal is to "create our own Star Alliance network" with a "modular" concept comprising the amalgamation of several airlines. He called it LH's "European answer" to the need for consolidation.
The company continues to have its sights set on Alitalia and Mayrhuber said he will not back down despite speculation that Air France KLM is leading the race to partner with Compagnia Aerea Italia (ATWOnline, Dec. 12). "Our logo is the crane, not a chicken," he said. Lufthansa board member Holger Hatty told Il Messaggero yesterday that LH would offer AZ "more than" €500 million ($686 million) in synergies and that a "multihub and multibrand" network would feature a Rome Fiumicino hub "focus[ed] on tourism" and a Milan Malpensa hub "focus[ed] on business."
Lufthansa decided against a bid for Iberia last year, when it displayed considerable caution as consolidation started to unfold (ATWOnline, Dec. 14, 2007).
The short-term outlook remains gloomy, however, and Mayrhuber said LH has planned no growth next year. "You should only produce what you can sell," he said.
by Kurt Hofmann
Thursday December 18, 2008
Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber told ATWOnline recently that acquisition of Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines is a "logical step" toward creating a pan-European network.
Speaking at Star Alliance's annual board meeting in Chicago, Mayrhuber said LH is targeting further consolidation. "From the LH management perspective, we can do more," he told this website. "What we have already done is no surprise."
He declined to say whether LH will bid for either SAS Group (ATWOnline, Nov. 13) or LOT Polish Airlines (ATWOnline, Dec. 15), but said the company's goal is to "create our own Star Alliance network" with a "modular" concept comprising the amalgamation of several airlines. He called it LH's "European answer" to the need for consolidation.
The company continues to have its sights set on Alitalia and Mayrhuber said he will not back down despite speculation that Air France KLM is leading the race to partner with Compagnia Aerea Italia (ATWOnline, Dec. 12). "Our logo is the crane, not a chicken," he said. Lufthansa board member Holger Hatty told Il Messaggero yesterday that LH would offer AZ "more than" €500 million ($686 million) in synergies and that a "multihub and multibrand" network would feature a Rome Fiumicino hub "focus[ed] on tourism" and a Milan Malpensa hub "focus[ed] on business."
Lufthansa decided against a bid for Iberia last year, when it displayed considerable caution as consolidation started to unfold (ATWOnline, Dec. 14, 2007).
The short-term outlook remains gloomy, however, and Mayrhuber said LH has planned no growth next year. "You should only produce what you can sell," he said.
by Kurt Hofmann
