British Airways PLC confirmed that talks have been held with Swiss International Air Lines Ltd over the possibility of the Swiss airline joining the BA-led OneWorld alliance.
Earlier today, 'Swiss' shares were suspended on the SWX Swiss Exchange until tomorrow at 2.00 pm at the airline's request.
Weekend press reports suggested the airline's board is meeting today to make a final decision over a possible alliance.
"We've been having discussions with Swiss for quite some time about possible commercial agreements but we cannot comment on the suspension of their shares," a BA spokeswoman told AFX News.
The other option said to be under consideration by the 'Swiss' board is the possibility of joining the Star Alliance, of which Lufthansa AG is a member.
BA's interest in 'Swiss' is understood to have arisen as a result of pressure from OneWorld partner American Airlines, which is said to be concerned about recent negotiations between 'Swiss' and Lufthansa.
Sk From Germany, joined Apr 2003, 75 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2490 times:
I'm not sure what will come next.
Let us read the following 4 headlines of today or the last weeks together:
1. LH is interested in taking over Swiss an activities are on the way - several facts known (newspaper articel in "Welt am Sonntag")
2. LX shares has been suspended from trading until tomorrow
3. the german chancelor announced that there may be a political way for the problems for ZRH approaches above germany
That's all announced today or yesterday
and the 4th and also interesting points:
4. LX suspended some very interesting routes which LH wanted to suspend them - the last suspended route had been ZRH-IAD - will we see UA in ZRH again?
So - everybody is allowed to think and/or wish what he/she wants, but for my opinion it's a pretty clear picture of what will happen. But we will se in a few hours - or maybe not
747firstclass From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2350 times:
It would seem to me that there are the same problems facing a BA/Swiss merger as there was with a BA/KL merger.
Problem is that BA does not have an opesnkies with the US and Swiss has said that ws a problem in times past. Swiss would lose the ability to do things it can do now if it got taken over by BA.
With a takeover by LH those issues do not come into play.
On the other hand there may be enough pressure by AA for BA to do something drastic to keep from losing ground to other alliances. ZRH would give BA a place to move some long haul flights etc. so that slots at LHR can be opeend up for an eventual openskies and an AA/BA anti trust immunity.
So I think this Swiss deal is to close to call which alliance it will join. Though I give a slight edge to Star Alliance. It is interesting that they are dropping the IAD-ZRH flight. We shall see.
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2222 times:
Hi!
I think we've seen a "lot of noise" about the possibility of SWISS beeing absorved by LH when infact it doesn't look that clear. I know that now AF and KL are getting together the bigger airlines want to find out their partners too in Europe, of course we're not talking about small airlines like TAP, Aer Lingus or others but medium to large airlines like SWISS, Alitalia, Iberia etc. I think because SWISS already have a strong code-share with AA and BA also is in the same aliance with AA it's almost clear that SWISS could actually joint BA instead of LH, we'll but it looks clear to me that BA is closer than LH, and if we want to compare BA is way better than LH!!!
Regards
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2102 times:
Hi!
OK, it's bet time!!! I'll personally cook a swiss fondu ( with true emmenthal and gruyere & kirch ) to anyone that wants to come buy by place in Lisbon/Portugal if SWISS doens't go to ONE WORLD!!! I'll do it portuguese style, with portuguese bread but also with peeled shrimp!
Regards
Teahan From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 5264 posts, RR: 63 Reply 11, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2069 times:
Singapore_Air,
What about this.
IF they do join Star Alliance, I'll add you to my RU list (unless you have some better suggestion?) . If on the other hand, they join OneWorld, you cannot make a single post about Singapore Airlines (or Singapore Airlines Ltd., or Singapore Airlines, A Member of Star Alliance or whatever other names you like to call them) for one whole month.
Jeremiah
Goodbye SR-LX MD-11 / 6th of March 1991 to the 31st of October 2004
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5540 posts, RR: 40 Reply 13, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1953 times:
CV990: Like you I hope, bet and pray for Oneworld.
BTW don't ever put Emmental cheese into a fondue. This is ugly and really the wrong one
(for fondue: Gruyere, Raclette, Vacherin fribourgois and perhaps Appenzeller)
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1925 times:
Hi ZRH!
It's good to have some fondue clues in the middle of what aliance SWISS will join! Well about the Emmental I got that from a swiss, but I understand fondue change from canton to canton! I tried already the Appenzeller once ( actually when I return to Portugal this December I stop by Herisau so I hope to have another one.... ) and the Vacherin Fribourgois, both very good, the Appenzeller was more active but tasty, the Vacherin was more soft but also very, very good. Now one question to a connaiseur, can I use Tilziter on the fondue too? Because that cheese is just fantastic, and you have to agree the OLD Emmental just plain with bred is awsome right?
Well I wait your feedback and we'll celebrate both when SWISS joint the One World!
regards
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5540 posts, RR: 40 Reply 16, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 1872 times:
Sorry guys I have to answer CV990 although it is of topic, but I don't have his e-mail. @CV990: yes you could use Tilsiter. The problem with Emmentaler is that this cheese makes strong strings and it is not nice to eat.
Sorry again guys, but CV990, you could write me an e-mail and we can discuss without bothering the other members You find my address in my profile.
Gerardo From Spain, joined May 2000, 3480 posts, RR: 34 Reply 19, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 1803 times:
Just for the bettings sake: My money is on LH/Star.
Just a detail: neither LH nor BA would take over LH completely, due to problems with open skies / bilateral agreements. It's only about a partial take over, up to 49%.
My bet: a genuine Fondue recipe
Cheers
Gerardo
dominguez(dash)online(dot)ch ... Pushing the limits of my equipment
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1718 times:
Hi!
I'm starting to be anxious here due to the fondue!!! ZRH I'll contact you asap ok?
Now if SWISS pulled out of IAD they still have North Atlantic routes competing with BA, does that mean that SWISS will have to give up of all their routes and maintain only JFK both from ZRH and GVA? I think there's still space for SWISS to keep some of their routes like LAX, Montreal, MIA right?
Regards and I'm seeing the fondue in the end of the tunnel already!!!
Businessflyer From Singapore, joined Aug 2001, 288 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 1639 times:
The Financial Times is reporting that Swiss is set to join OneWorld. BA is not going to take an equity stake in Swiss but will buy a significant number of Swiss's slots at Heathrow giving Swiss an immediate cash injection...
Boieng747-400 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (9 years 8 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1528 times:
Swiss public radio RSR reports that OneWorld is the winner
The Financial times online also reports that OneWorld has won. I'll try and get some links up.
Tim
25 Boieng747-400: Some links: Financial Times Germany (In German) http://www.ftd.de/ub/di/1064044987767.html?nv=hptn NZZ (Zurich, Switzerland) http://www.nzz.ch/2003/09
26 Boieng747-400: From http://www.Justplanes.com Swiss Will make an announcement at 1000 this morning about its future plans. It is expected that Swiss will announce th
27 StevenUhl777: oneworld it is...Didn't Swissair belong to oneworld before they folded and gave rise to Swiss? Or was it just a codeshare? I think those ties are the
28 Gerardo: Swissair was not member of Oneworld. They had codeshares with most Oneworld airlines, just as SWISS now. But Oneworld was always said to be the best o
29 Star_member: SWISS will not survive with BA and Oneworld. BA is only interested in stripping SWISS of its slots at LHR. It is clear they have no interest in the fu
30 Aussie747: ONE WORLD IT IS!! Good for me personally a lot of people ex Australia hate having to go through LHR just to get to ZRH. now either LX or QF will perha
31 Gerardo: LX or QF flying SYD-ZRH directly? There's a song about this: "Dream another dream, this dream is over" You can still fly LX to SIN or BKK and either B
32 Unique: LX or QF flying SYD-ZRH directly? There's a song about this: "Dream another dream, this dream is over" Fact is that even SR had traffic rights to fly
33 Airways: QF and LX do already have a codeshare via FRA. And I don't think that they're going to change that in the near future. But it would be cool to see Qan
34 Stefandotde: For me it's clear: LH shouldn't buy LX (or SR, anyway). Oneworld should get it. Not good for LX but LH. We can count the days till LX collapses.
35 JGPH1A: Kiss LX goodbye then - I would guess that BA only wants them for the slots at LHR, and to get rid of a competitor to Africa and the Middle East. With
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