VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50 Posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 696 times:
Is it likely that Swissair, BalairCTA, Sabena, and the combination AOM/Air Littoral/Air Liberté will end up being a single airline (SwissEuropean?) in the not too distant future. Are there any other airlines that SAir holds a large interest in that would become part of this large European airline (or even other Qualiflyer members?).
Such a consolidation would save a large ammount of money in terms of management, and with a common fleet across the airlines allowing for better use of Aircraft. Swissair is known for its service, and this service could then be guaranteed across a wider range.
Anyone agree, or am I dreaming?
P.S. SAir hold an interest in SAA, don't they?
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
Aussie_ From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1765 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 683 times:
believable maybe, but I just don't see the Belgians letting go of their national airline (in terms of the name I mean - it's already in effect gone!).
The french airlines maybe, as AF is regarded as the flagcarrier, Balair is basically part of swissair too so that is also not a problem.
also, Qualiflyer cannot exist long on its own. I think they'll either split or go their own way or collectively join one of the alliances, allowing that alliance to dominate the european skies (Oneworld is currently the more likely, though rumours regarding Swissair and Wings are flying around).
Gerardo From Spain, joined May 2000, 3480 posts, RR: 34 Reply 2, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 673 times:
Today, SR holds stakes in Switzerland (Balair, Crossair), Italy (Volare and Air Europe, now Volare Group), Belgium (Sabena, to be 85% controlled by SAir), France (AOM, Air Littoral, Air Liberté), Portugal (TAP), Germany (LTU) and South Africa (SAA). Further to that, they still have some stakes in Delta and Austrian, but these are for sale, after their alliance (Atlantic Excellence) broke up.
I don't see only one "European Airline", as some of the brands are very good introduced in the market.
As for the global alliance: So far, Swissair is preferring route specific code shares over a fix global alliance. But in my opinion, the ties between Qualiflyer and Oneworld are very strong and will get stronger. Perhaps Swissair might even reconsider its plans and sell some less important stakes.
Any further alliance plans of Swissair depend on other factors, like the US-UK open Skies agreement, which would give AA-BA more possibilities, BA's future alliance decisions, and so on.
Apart from Oneworld, the only other possibility I see for Swissair is "Wings". Star and above all SkyTeam are not interesting for Swissair.
Gibberish From Switzerland, joined Sep 2000, 424 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 660 times:
All I hope is that Swissair remains independent and continues their extraordinary service. We in Switzerland need our national airline, or else we would lose our connection to the rest of the world.
DeltaSFO From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 2488 posts, RR: 24 Reply 4, posted (12 years 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 647 times:
Gerardo....
What a surprise! I thought SR sold its Delta shares after Atlantic Excellence went away.
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From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, 
From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1765 posts, 
From Spain, joined May 2000, 3480 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Sep 2000, 424 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 2488 posts, 
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