DeltaFlyte

Heard this morning on CNN, British Airways and Qantas Airlines have opened talks regarding a possible merger of the two airlines. This will be the first "Global Merger" should it happen. More likely the two airlines will merge in stock name only whereas they would both retain their seperate "Brand Identities" like the Air France/KLM merger.

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Swisshansa10

Let BA first digest IB. QF is a big airline and it would not be so easy. Somehow all these M&A are giving me a scare. Hope they dont go the SR way!!!

toddmichaels

British Airways in merger talks with Qantas 2 Dec 2008, 2126 hrs IST, PTI

LONDON: UK's largest international airline, British Airways Plc on Tuesday said it is exploring a potential merger with Australia's Qantas Airways. In response to a recent media speculation, British Airways Plc confirmed that it was exploring a potential merger with Qantas Airways via a dual-listed company structure, it said in a statement. Further, discussions between British Airways and Spain's leading air transport group Iberia are also continuing. "There is no guarantee that any transaction will be forthcoming and a further announcement will be made in due course, if appropriate," the statement said. A dual-listed company refers to a structure wherein both companies continue to exist with separate bodies of shareholders, but they agree to share all the risks and rewards of the ownership of all their operating businesses in a fixed proportion. British Airways is the UK's largest international scheduled airline, flying to over 550 destinations globally. Shares of British Airways surged over 11 per cent and were trading at 155.90 pence on the London Stock exchange in the afternoon trade.

captain adam w

i dont mind as long as qantas and BA retain there seperate brands, it would be shame to see one go, only if NWA and delta had done it like that

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Chard

I hope they Do, Even better would be Qantas-Air New Zealand-British Airways -Cathay Pacific merge!

I don't think BA Should merge with Iberia, So I really hope they do merge with Qantas, but I still hope they each keep a presence in the others hometowns!

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DeltaFlyte

The merger between British Airways and Iberia Airlines of Spain looks promising in that it will more like happen than not. Now that British Airways is looking to bring Qantas Airlines into the fold through a merger in stock name only, it is apearent that their intent is to consolidate the "One World Alliance" into one large "Global Airline". You may disagree with what I am saying, but keep in mind that British Airways and American Airlines attempted to do this not too long ago, only to be shot down in the process because of anti-trust laws here in the United States.

Once the ball gets rolling, and the three major Alliances (Skyteam, One World, and Star Alliance) have consolidated the stock of the majority of the airlines that are members, the U.S. Anti-trust laws will have to be amended to allow the U.S. major airlines to consolidate their stocks or vanish due to their inability to compete. Like it or not, it looks like "Globalization" of the Airline Industry has started although each member airline will retain their seperate identity, fleet, and brand. Eventually One World, SkyTeam and Star Alliance will no longer be a code-share alliance, but corporations overseeing the finances of all it's members.

garyw77

British Airways had a 18.5% stake in Qantas before, until it sold up for £425 million in September 2004, and the two airlines have always kept close ties. Would be an interesting merger between two excellent airlines, as long as the seperate identities are kept!

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N928ME

I do agree with you there! (on BA/QF)

Tangent Warning!
However i certainly won't miss NWA. I will miss the 9s though, although I'd say they'd probably be around for a few more years.

SouthwestAirlines

I don't see this one going through just because they are both giant airlines.

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Boeing777

I think the DC-9s will have a place for a longggg time after the merger. They are a really valuble airplane for NWA, and I don't see why they wouldn't be valuble or even more valuble (if placed on more fitting routes) after the total merger!

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QF A380

I can't see Australian competition regulators letting this one through. The majority of the Aussie public are very protective of QANTAS as "our airline" and as such (Even though QF have been getting pounded by the media) would not want a change of that magnitude to go ahead.

QANTAS purchasing a controlling stake in another international carrier would be much more popular.

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DeltaFlyte

Too much pride might otherwise leave you high and dry without a National Airline. The objective of these type of mergers is for each airline to retain the majority of their own controlling shares with a partial investment in each of the other carriers involved in such a "Multi-Merger". Qantas would stay "Aussie" just as British Airways would stay "British", Iberia would remain "Spanish" and American Airlines would remain "American" in the traditional sense of nationality. Each airline would have their own respective CEO's whom in turn would report to an appointed staff that would oversee the finances of all carriers involved. Simply put, each airline is a Territory with it's own Territorial Government, but as a collective whole report to a Central Government. It's coming down to a "do it or die off" global market. The airlines have to find a way to survive knowing that the worst is yet to come. If this is the only way for them to survive what is yet to come, then at least they will be around long enough to break apart back into self-sufficient airlines when the commercial aviation market returns to some resembelance of stability.

DeltaFlyte

Size of each airline will have no bearing on it. Keep in mind that Delta and Northwest were two giants in the industry and merged into one single airline under the Delta banner; thus making Delta the world's largest airline to date. At least a British Airways / Iberia Airlines / Qantas Airlines merger will retain all three of the airlines seperate identities although they will be working as a whole singular unit.

Not too long ago British Airways and American Airlines tried to do a similar merger only to be shot down due to U.S. Anti-trust laws long before British Airways entered talks with Iberia regarding a merger. It's easier for airlines to merge within the same country like the United States or within the confines of the European Union; however when they try to merge with another airline from a foreign country, anti-trust rules will usually kill the deal unless waived requiring approval of all the other airlines from those countries involved.

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surviv0r

I dont think a mergr is all that necessary. I believe Qantas can definetly ride out this turbulent times with only a few bumps on the way.

DeltaFlyte

If Qantas thought that they could stand alone and bare the brunt of the storm, then why are they even bothering to talk to British Airways regarding a possible merger? There has to be something in it for them just the same as there is for British Airways and Iberia Airlines or it wouldn't be happening.