BA may merge with Iberia
Oct 5, 2003, 7:46 pm
#1
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BA may merge with Iberia
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MADRID, Spain - Spanish carrier Iberia and British Airways might merge, the British carrier's chief executive said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.
Rod Eddington told El Pais that as European airlines consolidate in a troubled market — the latest example being the new alliance between Air France and KLM — he'd like to see BA and Iberia "in each other's arms."
Eddington was in Madrid for a meeting with Iberia officials that he said was scheduled before news broke this week of the Air France-KLM deal.
He said British Airways would wait to see how European Union (news - web sites) regulators digest that alliance and how the structure works. BA and Iberia — which both belong to the OneWorld alliance with the largest U.S. carrier, American Airlines — plan to strengthen their ties before deciding on whether to move toward a merger.
Eddington said Spain is a natural market for BA.
In the Franco-Dutch arrangement, the creation of a new holding company, Air France-KLM, would form an aviation behemoth with annual revenue of about $22 billion.
The new alliance, uniting Europe's second- and fourth-largest carriers, would eclipse British Airways as Europe's biggest airline.
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MADRID, Spain - Spanish carrier Iberia and British Airways might merge, the British carrier's chief executive said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.
Rod Eddington told El Pais that as European airlines consolidate in a troubled market — the latest example being the new alliance between Air France and KLM — he'd like to see BA and Iberia "in each other's arms."
Eddington was in Madrid for a meeting with Iberia officials that he said was scheduled before news broke this week of the Air France-KLM deal.
He said British Airways would wait to see how European Union (news - web sites) regulators digest that alliance and how the structure works. BA and Iberia — which both belong to the OneWorld alliance with the largest U.S. carrier, American Airlines — plan to strengthen their ties before deciding on whether to move toward a merger.
Eddington said Spain is a natural market for BA.
In the Franco-Dutch arrangement, the creation of a new holding company, Air France-KLM, would form an aviation behemoth with annual revenue of about $22 billion.
The new alliance, uniting Europe's second- and fourth-largest carriers, would eclipse British Airways as Europe's biggest airline.
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Dec 13, 2003, 1:57 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Surprised nobody posted about this...
EU approves BA, Iberia alliance
BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia have won a six-year approval for an alliance across the European Union, the European Commission announced on Wednesday.
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/031210/80/egpzw.html
EU approves BA, Iberia alliance
BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia have won a six-year approval for an alliance across the European Union, the European Commission announced on Wednesday.
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/031210/80/egpzw.html
Dec 14, 2003, 8:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
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I posted something earlier but apparently no one cared!
Dec 15, 2003, 2:58 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2000
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I've never been on Ibreia before.
Can someone comment on the quality of on-board services and cabin in comparision to BA.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by dabbagmm (edited Dec 15, 2003).]
Can someone comment on the quality of on-board services and cabin in comparision to BA.
Thanks.
[This message has been edited by dabbagmm (edited Dec 15, 2003).]
Dec 15, 2003, 4:08 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Posts: 23,465
IB First is very poor in comparison to BA - I've not heard much good said about long haul business either. Certainly the cabin doesn't look special. The ground handling is pretty poor too across the network.
All in all, I think they fall a bit below AA in terms of quality and service. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to use them.
What they do have is a very, very strong Central and South American network from Europe - all with very little competition thus delviering some very tasty yields. I guess that is why BA are interested.
[This message has been edited by Swanhunter (edited Dec 15, 2003).]
All in all, I think they fall a bit below AA in terms of quality and service. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to use them.
What they do have is a very, very strong Central and South American network from Europe - all with very little competition thus delviering some very tasty yields. I guess that is why BA are interested.
[This message has been edited by Swanhunter (edited Dec 15, 2003).]
Dec 15, 2003, 6:36 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
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I have to disagree with Swanhunter. At least on my own experience of flying between MAD & LHR a lot last year in Y (>10 rtns), both on BA & IB - the inflight product on IB, in terms of comfort, meals & staff was superior to BA. I was surprised! I can't comment on Int'l J/F on IB, however, where I suspect BA wins hands down.
Dec 15, 2003, 6:51 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kanebear:
I posted something earlier but apparently no one cared!</font>
I posted something earlier but apparently no one cared!</font>
Dec 15, 2003, 8:29 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
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Posts: 8,545
I have flown both IB and BA several times between BCN and LHR. I prefer the IB service. The planes are about the same in terms of comfort - neither is anything special - but I like the personnel better, especially at check-in. Much friendlier.
Their FFP, on the other hand, sucks donkey dick.
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-alan in sitges, home of the new, improved Si-Re-Do
Their FFP, on the other hand, sucks donkey dick.
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-alan in sitges, home of the new, improved Si-Re-Do
Dec 16, 2003, 5:51 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,092
I flew IB on Granada Barcelona in November. I found the flight attendants on the nasty side, probably worse that AA or CO. Meal service was mediocre with a salami sandwich: I much prefer the new All Day Deli from LGW to MAD. The planes were uncomfortable with a 31' pitch, but I guess I'm spoiled from AA MRTC
Dec 16, 2003, 8:00 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2003
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My worst flight ever in my life, from JFK to Madrid, was with Iberia. Man it was bad! I was in economy so I can't complain too much, but it was just really really bad. The flight attendants on AA and UA seems like gentle angels compared to this.
Dec 16, 2003, 11:40 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southeast USA
Posts: 1,253
I flew IB JFK-MAD and then MAD-MIA, and I have to say long-haul coach service is the pitts! I know I badmouth BA all the time on this board, but BA 3rd World Traveller is like a Boeing Business Jet compared to IB coach! The flight attendants were rude (BA's may be cold, but rarely insult you directly), coach was cramped like BA 3WT, however older seat model with less padding and no headrests/footrests... Also, no toothbrush/eyeshades. Food was inedible and the entertainment (on a big screen, even on their new Airbuses) was 5 years old. Also, their old 747s remind me of Aerolineas Argentinas!
Dec 17, 2003, 3:15 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MAD
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BackOfTheBus:
[B] The flight attendants were rude (BA's may be cold, but rarely insult you directly) [B]</font>
[B] The flight attendants were rude (BA's may be cold, but rarely insult you directly) [B]</font>