Flanor From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 126 posts, RR: 0 Posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 3107 times:
William Gaillard of IATA told Danish newspaper Politiken that it is just a matter of time until we will see some sort of merger between SAS and Lufthansa. "This could happen within two years", he said.
LH423 From Canada, joined Jul 1999, 6501 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 3029 times:
N737MC:Well, I think the reason no article link was made is because the article is in Danish. If you can speak Danish and we have a link, please translate for me. Danish ≠ French (my second language).
Anyway, makes sense. Similar fleets and product (although I hear SAS's product is superior to many Euro carriers, especially on short-haul. And what would happen to the Scandinavian long-hauls, especially the non-CPH ones. I could see those being dropped in favour of feeding CPH, FRA, and MUC.
All in all, it'd be terrible to lose either identity as they are both unique carriers, SAS moreso.
LH423
« On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux » Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Godbless From Sweden, joined Apr 2000, 2751 posts, RR: 18 Reply 7, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2884 times:
Patrick,
I had expected you to say something like that.
My sister always says that SAS uses a blue tail on it's new livery so that once the deal is done they can remove the "SAS" titles and glue the Lufthansa crane there. Would be cool hybrids, Lufthansa planes with a grey belly...
I remember a statement and I think it was made by Jürgen Weber back in 1997 when Star was launched. He said if the airlines don't have the option to later "get closer together" (let's just call it merging...) than such an alliance does not really make sense. So of course this might be an option but I believe both airlines have better things to do than to merge now.
Jumbolino From Germany, joined Mar 2001, 490 posts, RR: 20 Reply 8, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2753 times:
Patrick said this because *LH IS crappy*
the LH service in January this year (so it's comparable) in Business class (!)
was nearly the same than SNBA on Thursday was in ECO = Y-class !!!!!!
and if you compare Y class and c class fares you will know while we say crappy and it was Lufthansa City Line (and they are a lot better than their mom) and NOT Lufthansa itself
be true one year ago I had an LH itself BUS class flight (two to be true there I had also a return)
and this could be (depends on crew and aircraft) also compareable to Swiss Y class and the fares of course - NOT !
Hugh - I have told you
With United, Air Canada and SAS in trouble I wonder if eventually Star Alliance will turn itself into a single brand airline? Consolidating planes, services, standards and have more power to negotiate better pricing for aircraft and airport services.. Individually the airlines could trim back their individual expenses while expanding their global presence..
I hope this doesn't happen but given the mess the aviation world is in at the moment I fear it may be on the horizon.
Fly-K From Germany, joined May 2000, 3120 posts, RR: 53 Reply 11, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2508 times:
I doubt it.
SAS is very wary of any "foreign influence" on their carrier. I think the current commercial agreements between LH and SAS are the furthest they will accept.
An AUA-LH merger (of sorts) might be more realistic in the long term.
Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been...
Boeingfan From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 385 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2367 times:
Good move for both carriers. But this may be wishful thinking, as SAS cost are a little higher then LH. Do not think the EUC would let this go through, then again, this would open the door for BA and KL to fully merge.
It all could happen, but doubt it, what bank is going to float more money around an airline these days?
Good luck to LH and Sk. Maybe, just maybe in 2008, when the industry is healthier.
Sobelair From Croatia, joined Sep 2000, 353 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2195 times:
Lufthansa and Austrian may actually merge. AUA's new CEO gave a statement few months ago (I still remember) on this issue. He said he expects AUA to merge with a bigger airline within the next five years, because AUA would be simply too small to survive alone.
My guess is that AUA could easily become Lufthansa Austria. ;o)
Godbless From Sweden, joined Apr 2000, 2751 posts, RR: 18 Reply 18, posted (10 years 1 month 2 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 2061 times:
Just thinking about a LH-AUA merger. How would that airline look after the wedding? Could it be a German airline, could it be a Austrain airline or would they have to go for the title European airline?
Looking at the lacking pride of Germans I could see them accept LH being european and not German...
Rickster From Austria, joined Dec 2000, 653 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (10 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1880 times:
Guys, sooner or later we will have new company scenario here in Europe. Our Airlinesystem in Europe is still based on the idea that every big or little country loves to keep its identity and independence based on a national carrier.
Most of the European Airlines from smaller Countries are for sure a way to big for their home markets surviving somehow with operating international hubs at their homebases. The rumor on a possible LH-OS merger is around since years. It may get intensified as the new LH CEO came from Austria some decades ago.
All mergers with Lufthansa, LH-SAS or LH-OS or even all three together, with the next canditate LOT, and with Frankfurt, Munich and in the future Berlin as LH hubs in the background will mean the end of international hub operations on the airports in this countries. This fact does for sure not please local economical interests and so i doubt that this will happen in the near future.
regards Rickster
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