Quote: "I've always been a bit surprised that DL was happy to acquire only 49% of VS. What they needed was 51% (OK 2% would have had to be owned by AFKLM to get around nationality rules but that that could have given them effective control). They could then have parachuted in some DL managers and hopefully made a difference. As it is I don't see much of a difference beyond the UA codeshare being replaced with a DL one. SQ is one of the world's best airlines but this did not seem to rub off on VS. Will things be different with DL? Are there significant changes planned for the future?"
SQ weren't running VS and nor are DL. It's not like the relationship between LH and BD. Probably just as well, bearing in mind that there is, regretably, no longer any BD.
Could any potential AF/KL interest in VS be for LHR slots and little else?
AF tried longhaul from LHR when the EU-US open skies arrangements made it possible: it was not successful.
Why would Branson sell 2% to AF/KL anyway and turn himself into a minority shareholder?