Delta eyes Virgin

[brakedwell]

Could be another interesting development in the scheme of things:

Delta plots to take control of Virgin Atlantic - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9717090/Delta-plots-to-take-control-of-Virgin-Atlantic.html)

[Hotel Tango]

Not a hope in my book. But what do I know?

[ExXB]

Virgin's destinations include many who's ownership and control rules require them to be 'British'. 49% owned by Singapore is OK, but 51% owned by US and French is not.

[bluepilot]

i think that if majority ownership is with th EU then thats fine (BA / Iberia?) (KLM / Air France) (Lufthansa / BMI) etc

[Iver]

Perhaps Delta is also seeking a piece of Virgin America (A320 operator) as a part of the deal. Regardless, Delta seem to have big pockets and good strategy (like buying an oil refinery in Pennsylvania to reduce oil price volatility for NY area hub) - Virgin could certainly use both these days...

Not sure how VS pilot jobs could be impacted if this comes to fruition... Doubt Delta would want to squander the value of the LHR slots.

[stilton]

Seems a terrible idea for Delta.

[DownIn3Green]

Delta has gone downhill service-wise (in my opinion) since the DL/NWA merger...seems like I have to go to Memphis, Detroit or MSP to go anywhere on "DL" instead of 1 transfer in Atlanta and onward to the world...

Also, just a few months ago, DL ****e canned Comair, and put over 800 pilots out of a job....

I have too many miles on DL to abandon them now, but if I'm paying, it will be another carrier...

[Heathrow Harry]

would give them more slots at LHR, more E coast flights to the UK and onward connections to some interesting places

also stops BA from eventually acquiring Virgin as the buyer of last resort

[seat 0A]

Delta has just announced they have agreed to take over the 49% stake in Virgin from SIA.

Delta buys 49 percent Virgin Atlantic stake for $360 million | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/11/us-singaporeairlines-virgin-sale-idUSBRE8BA0JC20121211)

[millerscourt]

HH
How would it give them more slots at LHR as any Virgin slot Delta used would be at the expense of Virgin?

Branson says he will keep his 51% still ( Well he would say that wouldn't he ) In which case Delta will discover like SIA did that owning 49% means SFA!

Could never see why Dr C the then CEO of SIA spent over £600million to buy 49% of Virgin which has been a disaster financially. Over the years a huge negative dividend. Branson saw him coming:E

[clipstone1]

Ownership only has to be majority EU (looks at the leisure travel groups.....all of the TUI and Thomas Cook airlines are UK owned, regardless of being based in UK, Germany, Nordics etc)

[springbok449]

Hotel Tango,

To answer your question: nothing, obviously...!

This is good news for VS and their employees, I think, but then I genuinely know nothing...

[sevenstrokeroll]

I'm glad Delta got rid of comair. Delta is finally realizing that running the whole show with in house planes and crews is the way to go.

Delta is also trying to pick up every MD90 they can get their hands on...and they are still using DC9's as it is truly the best short/medium 100 seat class plane to use,esp when you own them outright,.

good luck, however virgins can be tricky

[jackieofalltrades]

I wonder if Virgin will now join the Sky Team alliance? I know it doesn't necessarily say they will, considering that they didn't join Star Alliance whilst under the part ownership of Singapore Airlines. But there has been significant chatter discussing the benefits of Virgin joining one of the major alliances.

[millerscourt]

My guess is after a while Branson will sell some or all of his 51% to KLM/Air France as otherwise Delta have bought a loss making 49% without any say in how the business is run.

My guess is Branson will be the receiver of a kick in the groin rather than the Willie.:E

[Artie Fufkin]

Just goes to prove to me that I shouldn't go in to airline management. To me this seems like a daft idea for Delta.

Maybe the books aren't as bad as we have been lead to believe?

$600 million loss for Singapore...! (I know the accounting pain has already occurred)

[xray one]

Delta will have onward travel to Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen (eventually Glasgow i would guess). Shared profits on the Atlantic routes which are Virgins strongest and i would guess at some stage 'borrowing' some of VAAs slots. Pick up VAA pax from Delhi and Mumbai for onward travel to Atlanta and other hubs. So, i think they probably went in with their eyes wide open....

[millerscourt]

Busta Level

So far Hotel Tango is not wrong as Delta have NOT taken control of Virgin:D

And they never will because they are not an EU Airline so can never have control of Virgin on their own:}

[skidbuggy]

If the Dixie Dummies do indeed gain some ownership in Virgin, will Branson give up on Virgin America and let them die off? Virgin Atlantic will have all the US domestic feed it could ever want.

Just a thought.

[B737900er]

Delta has now got SIA 49% stake in Virgin. Just received an email from Virgin flying club.

[Temp Spike]

CNN reports Delta bys 49% of Virgin Atlantic.

...betcha they buy more.

[Omnipresent]

...betcha they buy more.

I wouldn't if I were you. EU ownership restrictions limit their ownership to 49%.

[Cyrano]

CNN reports Delta bys 49% of Virgin Atlantic.

...betcha they buy more.

Oh yes? I'll happily take your bet on that one (as I imagine will anyone else familiar with airline ownership-and-control rules). :E

[UA787DEN]

...betcha they buy more.

As said, EU ownership rules won't allow it. Probably Richard Branson wouldn't either.

Does anyone know how this will work as far as alliances/joint ventures? Will they join the DL-AF-KLM alliance (that would make quite a check-in sign) or will it be a separate DL-VS alliance?

[WHBM]

BBC News - Delta to buy Virgin Atlantic stake from Singapore Airlines (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20680680)

Delta and Virgin Atlantic To Form Strategic Alliance - Dec 11, 2012 (http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=43&item=1822)

[reverserunlocked]

469 views and not one comment on the world's biggest aviation site. This place ain't what it used to be.

[Runcorn Bridge]

Problem is that it's not about Ryanair.

[lexoncd]

Problem is that its not in the correct forum i.e Airlines , Airports and Routes. Simples really but if you pop along you'll see the discussion. Its under Virgin Atlantic.