DL and NW Meger Closed, BA and QF Next?

[SelectSys]

Heard on CNBC this morning that BA is looking to buy Qantas. Interesting turn of events as industry consolidation marches on in this tough economy.

 

Here is an AP link:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIJe3xFMBxLr2DtZB7Kcdx3wbzxQD94QNA580

[Globaliser]

It's very interesting. We'll have to see if anything comes of it. I fear that this is an idea whose time has yet to come. The public and the world still sees airlines as having a nationality. In an ideal world, if you were to fly between Sydney and Perth, between Hong Kong and Tokyo, or between New York and San Diego, it shouldn't matter whether the airline is based in Chicago or London or Singapore? After all, if you drive from Miami to Atlanta, nobody cares much whether your car was built in Detroit or Tokyo. And who last wondered whether their Coca-Cola was produced in Canada or Spain? Flying should be the same.

 

In that world, the idea of having a single airline that has two centres of gravity at opposite ends of the earth, one looking after Europe/North America and the other able to service Asia-Pacific, has a lot of merit. It's to do with coverage and ubiquity.

 

But I have a feeling that the world just isn't ready for that yet.

[Globaliser]

Well, that idea was short-lived!

 

I wonder if whoever leaked the news, forcing the public statements, was someone keen to see the end of the talks.

[Hambagahle]

I don't think BA could have "swallowed" Qantas AND Iberia at once! However I don't see QF with Malaysian, which seems to be the next suitor!