LH have pockets that are far deeper than the likes of BA and although they have made a first quater loss (earning figures should be out today) they still think that full year will be positive.
They are of course contracted to buy SMB intrest (50%+1 share) and they knew that when they bought both SN & AA. So any idea that a fire sale is required to replace funds, given that any sale, if possible in the current market would reap peanuts.
LH are long game players (they have been involved with bmi for the best part of a decade) the big issue to address and by far the most urgent is to make the LHR operation profitable and it is short haul flying that is hurting the East bound medium haul routes are doing well and offer good long term growth.
Regional have a very good product and the profitablity is driven by the fact that the fleet does a lot of flying for mainline, in which the earnings are underwriten by mainline so there is no risk, ditto the Airbus contract.
bmibaby have preformed well thus far, but everyones knows that is doesnt fit the Luffty product, but again it was set up on Luffties watch and the European market has changed since the ECA agrement was set up. If Luffty want part of the high volume + cash flow market that Easy/Ryan/Aerberlin are in they have the means to do it with Eurowings/baby under whatever brand these choose, they may of course just sell it/close it/give it away, in any event all will become clear soon.
