Virgin Atlantic
 

Rumours been going on for some time but looks like they are hotting up!

Virgin Atlantic Receives A String Of Approaches Over Possible Tie-Up Or Merger | Business | Sky News

BA perhaps...so they can get their well trained CC in quick time, in order to replace BA's present malcontent CC...in equally quick time.:}

. or perhaps not if this chap's comment is anything to go by:

I wonder if they can keep going as an independent (given their ownership structure) niche player when every deal these days seems to be about alliances. SkyTeam would seem to be the logical choice.

The old rumour was a tie up with B Midland, Lufthansa were never very happy at having to buy Mr Bishop out. Tying in Lufthansa Singapore and Virgin would make a lot of sense for the Star Alliance.

Any idea how much it's worth?
No I'll rephrase that, any idea how much it might sell for?

Keep an eye on the middle east :}

Though EU ownership rules prevent a non-EU airline taking a majority stake and I think that is one of the main stumbling blocks to any deal with a US/Middle Eastern carrier. SQ's 49% stake has been up for sale for literally years and there haven't been any serious contenders for it.

Or easyJet..? :ok:

The fact that they are A333s would also add to this possible theory.

Your expectations might well be spot on, as our Dir Marketing (the original ex-Laker head honcho in the same capacity) says...'expect a surprise'.
He won't say more (jungle drumbs beating) and I ain't asking.:\

Not so. Emirates tried to buy Austrian. Etihad has reportedly tendered for 30% of Montenegro Airlines. Both Emirates and Qatar are in the running to buy 49% of Adria. Qatar has just concluded a deal with the Romanians to give them fifth-freedom rights out of Bucharest.

Of course they are looking to expand outside their tiny home market. Qatar (pop 1.5 million) has more widebody seats in its orderbook than British Airways has in its current fleet.

Those jungle drums seem to be spelling D-E-L-T-A to me.

What cost to buy Singapore's 49% complete with associated LHR slots, immediate access to unserved-by-Delta California - LHR and all routes East and South, compared to the overinflated prices all the US carriers paid for access to LHR just a couple of years ago?

Could be a relative bargain.

Rgds

No serious contender will want to be involved until the Cold Hand of Branson has a few fingers severed and he loses the majority stakeholder position. That alone has ensured the Singaporean stake remained unsaleable.

Any kind of flotation or restructuring of Virgin Atlantic will need the existing shareholders to be reduced or eliminated, with a nod to the EU rules. For that alone it'll be a tough deal to try and call. Many potential bidders won't fancy Sir Beard being involved in their companies either which means share swaps may not be the ideal solution.

BTW the two A333 with no Upper are for MAN and LGW Orlando services that traditionally haven't sold well in the front cabin, as they are packed out with Virgin Holidays punters off to see the mouse.

Virgin Atlantic Has Been Approached About Deals - NYTimes.com

Another reference to Delta.

Tony Fernandes (Air Asia) has just contradicted rumours that he would buy Virgin Atlantic.

For an airline that rolled out a whole new livery this year they've stopped painting. Three B747-400s and that was it. Telling?

The A340s that came back from storage went straight into service.