Originally Posted by
DuctOvht
Seriously, what are you talking about? I think you’re living in some sort of fantasy land.
Firstly, IF (and its a big if) an offer is made it will be IAG making it, not BA. Huge difference. IAG have already made an offer and Norwegian’s owners turned it down because it wasn’t high enough. Are you seriously suggesting that these base closures etc. are somehow going to make IAG offer more for what is effectively a dead duck?! If another offer is forthcoming, I’d imagine it would be peanuts compared to what came before.
The reality is that the business model has never been sustainable and in all likelihood this is the beginning of the end. It’s always only been a matter of time until the chickens came home to roost. Norwegian’s expansion has always come across to me as a huge vanity project for its owners, who can’t accept that they haven’t magically unlocked a special way of doing things that would make it work for them, where so many others have failed.
Yes, my mistake, obviously it'd be IAG not BA. Nonetheless, where's your argument? You're giving some personal opinions, and the possibilites are thrown off as "fantasy land"?
First of all IAG bought roughly 5% of stock of Norwegian. This allowed them to have a look at the books. Also since the stock price went up, Norwegians worth grew. A possible take-over of Lufthansa/Eurowings was therefore too expensive. If IAG wants to buy Norwegian, they'd probably aim for the Longhaul fleet. They wouldn't want Norwegian compete with Vueling, Iberia and Air Lingus in the short haul segment. Also most likely that wouldn't be allowed by the European Union as IAG would own large parts of the market then. On the other hand they'd have a good position against Lufthansa and Airfrance/KLM. On the other hand Norwegian would be interesting for Lufthansa/Eurowings. With a take-over they'd expand the network significantly throughout Europe. So tell me again I am living in a fantasy land. I am not saying it will happen. From my personal perspective it looks like that will happen, since Norwegian closed the spanish bases and also FCO.
Of course in the end it can turn out very differently. But I fail to see where closing short haul bases that (according to many people) were making money, saves Norwegian the desired amount of money.
Also before you act like you know everything better. Buying an airline isn't just about the business model, it's also about aircraft, crew, passengers and slots.