HellaFlyGuy

South African Airways in takeover talks with three major competitors:

http://www.impactpub.com.au/micebtn/...1967&Itemid=50

"Troubled Johannesburg-based airline South African Airways (SAA) is believed to be in talks with Lufthansa, Emirates and bmi for those airlines to takeover and operate SAA's major international routes, including the well performed Australia route.

The deal, if it comes off, would see SAA selling its international traffic rights to the three airlines, which would then operate passenger and cargo services on the routes on behalf of SAA using their own aircraft and staff..."

Any more news on this?

VAFFPAX

Intriguing... I guess after the sugar dady (SwissAir) disappeared off the horizon, it was only a matter of time that the 'new' government would stop paying forever and a day.

:-\

S.

merchant sailors

can't see bmi being in a position to do this.

EK or LH would be interesting, but it seems too big a step for both and the SA government would not likely give up such a strong strategic asset.

Look at EK's track record with Sri Lankan. This did not leave the airline is a particularly strong strategic position once EK was forced out.

I suspect if the SA Government was going to do this as you described, they would have a mini revolt on their hands due to the number of public sector staff that would be out of work. SA can't afford this especially in the run up to the 2010 world cup.