BA eyes stake in American Airlines
British Airways is considering buying a stake in troubled American Airlines to stop it falling into the hands of rival airlines.
US Airways is in talks with American Airlines’ creditors about a takeover before the parent company finishes bankruptcy proceedings and Delta is also said to be interested.
But BA-owner, International Airlines Group wants to protect the cost-sharing joint venture on transatlantic routes it has with American Airlines.
American Airlines may also be forced to quit the Oneworld alliance with IAG if it merged with a rival airline.
Group chief executive Willie Walsh is studying several options including buying a stake in the airline, reports the Sunday Times.
American Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last November to shield it from its creditors while it restructured its debt, see previous story.
US Airways is talking about a possible merger with American Airlines after Delta and Northwest Airlines combined in 2008 and United Airlines and Continental Airlines joined forces in 2010.
The aim is to secure a deal before the parent company AMR Corporation emerges from Chapter 11 later this year.
"This isn’t a marriage made in heaven, like Northwest and Delta, or Continental and United," said Ray Neidl, an aerospace analyst with Maxim Group told Bloomberg.
"But US Airways is the last girl on the dance floor right now."
US Airways CEO Doug Parker has made no secret of his desire to join with American.
A spokesman for the airline confirmed the airline is buying up Internet domain names, including usairways-american.com and american-usairways.com, reflecting a potential merger, according to the Associated Press.
Diane
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