LH more than just in talks with swiss
May 31, 2004, 2:13 am
#1
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LH more than just in talks with swiss
Last edited by Rudi; May 31, 2004 at 2:34 am Reason: had to correct the link
May 31, 2004, 2:21 am
#2
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May 31, 2004, 2:26 am
#3
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Originally Posted by Guy Betsy
Rudi, what happened to that link?
Lufthansa may participate in 'Swiss' capital increase; talks held
Swiss International Air Lines AG and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have held talks with a view to the German carrier participating in a capital increase planned by 'Swiss', Sunday paper SonntagsZeitung reported.
Should the Swiss government decide to sell its 32.6 pct stake in 'Swiss', Lufthansa might even obtain a majority stake in the company, the newspaper added, without naming sources.
Meanwhile, the Swiss carrier has not been invited to participate in the next executive meeting of the OneWorld alliance pending the outcome of bilateral talks with the alliance's largest member, British Airways PLC.
"Swiss ... will not participate in the next meeting," the newspaper cited a company spokeswoman as saying.
'Swiss', which has been expected to join OneWorld, has participated in the alliance's recent meetings as an observer.
Swiss International Air Lines AG and Deutsche Lufthansa AG have held talks with a view to the German carrier participating in a capital increase planned by 'Swiss', Sunday paper SonntagsZeitung reported.
Should the Swiss government decide to sell its 32.6 pct stake in 'Swiss', Lufthansa might even obtain a majority stake in the company, the newspaper added, without naming sources.
Meanwhile, the Swiss carrier has not been invited to participate in the next executive meeting of the OneWorld alliance pending the outcome of bilateral talks with the alliance's largest member, British Airways PLC.
"Swiss ... will not participate in the next meeting," the newspaper cited a company spokeswoman as saying.
'Swiss', which has been expected to join OneWorld, has participated in the alliance's recent meetings as an observer.
Jun 2, 2004, 5:32 am
#5
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Originally Posted by LH738
LH recently announced an increase in share capital. Explanatory statement by LH: to prepare to finance A380s. But this statement sounds rather unbelievable...
Jun 3, 2004, 7:09 am
#6
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Oneworld Press release
oneworld releases Swiss International Air Lines from its commitment to join the global alliance
June 03, 2004
oneworld has released Swiss International Air Lines from its commitment to join the global alliance.
The move follows an agreement between the airline and established oneworld partner British Airways to free SWISS, at its request, from the bilateral commercial agreement they signed in October 2003, which was a fundamental condition of it becoming a member of the global alliance.
All code-shares and bilateral relationships between SWISS and the other existing individual oneworld partners remain in place.
oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said: "This is unfortunate, but we have always been clear that oneworld will only recruit airlines where they add value both to our customers and to our existing partners. Without the full implementation of its bilateral agreement with British Airways, SWISS would substantially reduce the value BA derives from oneworld.
"SWISS has indicated that oneworld is still its preferred alliance and that it hopes to be in a position to seek membership again in the future, which we would welcome under terms suitable for all.
"Meantime, oneworld has four of Europe's leading airlines on board, working closely together and based at some of the continent's best hubs, so we are already strongly represented in this region.
"We continue to offer the world's most international network, serve more countries than any other alliance, market more alliance fare and sales products than all our rivals combined, and lead the field in customer service with developments like interline e-ticketing between all our partners, which is on track for full implementation by the end of this year. Furthermore, we believe we generate more value for our partners than any of our competitors achieve for their members."
With partners Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia all increasing their services to Switzerland in recent months, oneworld remains committed to its customers in the country and intends to continue to develop its range of services and products in this market, providing the best connections between Zurich, Geneva and Basel to the 575 destinations on the alliance's worldwide network.
SWISS was originally voted on board as a member elect of oneworld on September 2003.
oneworld releases Swiss International Air Lines from its commitment to join the global alliance
June 03, 2004
oneworld has released Swiss International Air Lines from its commitment to join the global alliance.
The move follows an agreement between the airline and established oneworld partner British Airways to free SWISS, at its request, from the bilateral commercial agreement they signed in October 2003, which was a fundamental condition of it becoming a member of the global alliance.
All code-shares and bilateral relationships between SWISS and the other existing individual oneworld partners remain in place.
oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said: "This is unfortunate, but we have always been clear that oneworld will only recruit airlines where they add value both to our customers and to our existing partners. Without the full implementation of its bilateral agreement with British Airways, SWISS would substantially reduce the value BA derives from oneworld.
"SWISS has indicated that oneworld is still its preferred alliance and that it hopes to be in a position to seek membership again in the future, which we would welcome under terms suitable for all.
"Meantime, oneworld has four of Europe's leading airlines on board, working closely together and based at some of the continent's best hubs, so we are already strongly represented in this region.
"We continue to offer the world's most international network, serve more countries than any other alliance, market more alliance fare and sales products than all our rivals combined, and lead the field in customer service with developments like interline e-ticketing between all our partners, which is on track for full implementation by the end of this year. Furthermore, we believe we generate more value for our partners than any of our competitors achieve for their members."
With partners Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia all increasing their services to Switzerland in recent months, oneworld remains committed to its customers in the country and intends to continue to develop its range of services and products in this market, providing the best connections between Zurich, Geneva and Basel to the 575 destinations on the alliance's worldwide network.
SWISS was originally voted on board as a member elect of oneworld on September 2003.
Jun 3, 2004, 7:39 am
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from my swiss-bank's newswire
Swiss govt urges 'Swiss'/Lufthansa partnership, says merger a possibility
The Swiss government would welcome any move by Swiss International Air Lines AG to set up a partnership with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and a merger with a strategic partner could be considered, finance minister Hans-Rudolf Merz said.
Speaking on DRS radio and television, Merz said the government is not too worried about Swiss' decision not to enter the British Airways PLC-led OneWorld Alliance, but noted the airline does need a strategic partner.
Various options for a partnership can be considered, including a merger, on the assumption a capital hike at Swiss is approved, he said. "Under such an option, the government would sell its 20.4 pct stake to a strategic investor," he said.
Swiss cantons and municipalities own a 12.2 pct stake in the airline, while UBS AG holds 10.4 pct and Credit Suisse Group 10 pct.
The Swiss government would welcome any move by Swiss International Air Lines AG to set up a partnership with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and a merger with a strategic partner could be considered, finance minister Hans-Rudolf Merz said.
Speaking on DRS radio and television, Merz said the government is not too worried about Swiss' decision not to enter the British Airways PLC-led OneWorld Alliance, but noted the airline does need a strategic partner.
Various options for a partnership can be considered, including a merger, on the assumption a capital hike at Swiss is approved, he said. "Under such an option, the government would sell its 20.4 pct stake to a strategic investor," he said.
Swiss cantons and municipalities own a 12.2 pct stake in the airline, while UBS AG holds 10.4 pct and Credit Suisse Group 10 pct.
Jun 3, 2004, 7:58 am
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Now it is getting more interesting. I still hope that Swiss will at least cooperate a little bit with Lufthansa although I understand the resulting disadvantages which Rudi mentioned in the other thread on this topic.
Jun 3, 2004, 9:55 am
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Nice, but
It would add some direct flight options for me.
However, I must be honest and say that I think that LX has an uncertain future. LH would have to use *A would have to use LX for connections to Switzerland, and give up the LH flights for LX to survive, IMO.
However, I must be honest and say that I think that LX has an uncertain future. LH would have to use *A would have to use LX for connections to Switzerland, and give up the LH flights for LX to survive, IMO.
Jun 3, 2004, 10:05 am
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FRA and MUC are already hubs. LH wouldn't allow LX to operate another hub within short distance to FRA and MUC. LX would have to concentrate on feeding LH's hubs and doing some medium and long-haul flights to main destinations (e.g. JFK, BKK, DXB).
Jun 3, 2004, 1:03 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by LH738
FRA and MUC are already hubs. LH wouldn't allow LX to operate another hub within short distance to FRA and MUC. LX would have to concentrate on feeding LH's hubs and doing some medium and long-haul flights to main destinations (e.g. JFK, BKK, DXB).
Jun 3, 2004, 4:58 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by christianj
I understand what you are saying but can't you see Zurich being a hub for LX like VIE is for OS even if they are soon part of LH and the *A? I don't think that VIE is used as a feeding airport for LH's hubs in FRA and MUC so why would Zurich become a feeder for FRA and MUC?
I'm sure that, in the event of LH cooperation, short haul routes from ZRH and GVA that had viable point-to-point traffic would remain (LH operate quite a decent short haul network from DUS, for example). Major long hauls to JFK and SIN/BKK could well also remain, again based on standalone viability and/or competition law constraints imposed on them by the European Commission / Swiss Competition Commission. If LH listens at all to the local business community, other services with significant business links would also remain (potentially as business class only services, like the LH/Privatair services from DUS).
What I do think will go is the ZRH hub offering for economy passengers, in the sense that someone like me can get very nice fares BRU-ZRH-XXX that compete with LH's very nice fares from BRU-FRA/MUC-XXX. LH wants to funnel that traffic through its own hubs and make that business more viable by marginalising nearby competitors.
In order to complete the pictire and thereby retain some independence, LX needs to offer something distintive that LH doesn't have on its own (and I'm not talking about the Swiss logo on the tail, or the on board Nespresso machines). OS, for instance, has developed a successful niche in flying to much of Eastern Europe - places like TIA (where LX pulled out despite running the most successful operation) and Almaty.
What could LX develop in this way? I think that one answer might lie in Africa, where LH's coverage is weak, and the market is expanding. While SA is due to join Star soon and improve this coverage, I wouldn't be surprised if LH were to try and cultivate the development of a Europe-Africa specialist closer to home.
In short, I wouldn't see LX-LH cooperation as such a bad thing, from my work perspective of someone travelling on full price tickets. Where I would be more concerned is if I were a leisure traveller based in CH, or flying from D to CH (take a look at fares from FRA-CPH and you'll see what I mean!).
Jun 4, 2004, 4:12 am
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Originally Posted by House
What follows below are purely my own personal rantings and wild speculation - feel free to ignore!
OS, for instance, has developed a successful niche in flying to much of Eastern Europe - places like TIA (where LX pulled out despite running the most successful operation) and Almaty.
OS, for instance, has developed a successful niche in flying to much of Eastern Europe - places like TIA (where LX pulled out despite running the most successful operation) and Almaty.