British Airways has confirmed Thursday that its proposed merger with Spanish carrier Iberia will go ahead after concluding a £4.2 billion (US$7 billion) deal. The merger – 18 months in the making – creates the world's third largest airline group and will see BA take control of 55 per cent of the combined group, rising to 56 per cent when cross shareholdings held by the two companies are cancelled next year. Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive will become the head of the … [Read more...] about Long-awaited BA/Iberia merger signed
BA
Outlook uncertain says BA
UK carrier British Airways says total traffic for the month of July was up one per cent, capacity was down 2.7 per cent from a year ago and passenger load factor was up 3.1 per cent compared to last year. The remaining northern summer holiday months are expected to help all European carriers’ loads and yields, but BA added that yields will be “under pressure from the year-on-year impact of lower fuel surcharges, exchange movements and mixâ€Â. BA’s cargo business … [Read more...] about Outlook uncertain says BA
BA soon to undertake ‘far-reaching’ restructuring
British Airways will soon announce far-reaching restructuring measures designed to reduce costs and increase efficiency, the carrier said in its in-house weekly newspaper, BA News. "Only through delivering fundamental change can we achieve the small profit we are targeting this year and emerge from the crisis as a strong global player," CFO Keith Williams said, warning that the shakeup will be "far-reaching, reshaping our company from top to bottom." He said BA's biggest challenge will be, … [Read more...] about BA soon to undertake ‘far-reaching’ restructuring
BA soon to undertake 'far-reaching' restructuring
British Airways will soon announce far-reaching restructuring measures designed to reduce costs and increase efficiency, the carrier said in its in-house weekly newspaper, BA News. "Only through delivering fundamental change can we achieve the small profit we are targeting this year and emerge from the crisis as a strong global player," CFO Keith Williams said, warning that the shakeup will be "far-reaching, reshaping our company from top to bottom." He said BA's biggest challenge will be, … [Read more...] about BA soon to undertake 'far-reaching' restructuring
Qantas, BA target US$500 million annual synergies
Qantas Airways Ltd and British Airways PLC are targeting annual synergies of at least US$500 million by 2010 as part of their merger discussions, the Australian Financial Review reported. Qantas Airways British Airways are in talks about a potential merger as airlines explore consolidation in a bid to mitigate the deepening economic downturn. Qantas confirmed on Wednesday it was exploring a potential merger via a dual-listed company structure after a similar announcement earlier by BA that sent … [Read more...] about Qantas, BA target US$500 million annual synergies
Europe/CIS: BA to shed 1,400 jobs and £170 million
UK carrier British Airways says it is offering voluntary redundancy to 1,400 senior and middle managers in a bid to cut about three per cent of its 42,000 workforceand £170 million from its wages bill. … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: BA to shed 1,400 jobs and £170 million