crewrest
6th Nov 2001, 18:02
From the London Evening Standard.
VIRGIN Express, the Belgian-based airline part-owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group, has pulled out of talks with Sabena, effectively dashing what had been seen as the last chance to prevent the ailing Belgian airline's collapse.
The discount airline had been interested in buying certain assets of the Belgian flag-bearer and its operations. Such action could safeguard more than 3,000 jobs. But, Virgin Express said: 'In the absence of an agreement with Sabena we now believe that it will be in the best interest of the travelling public for Virgin Express to pursue (an) independent plan. The plan presented to us by Sabena, in our view, could put the future of our staff at risk.'
Virgin Express, which had been expected to create a new airline with Sabena's short-haul subsidiary, Delta Air Transport, said it was still willing to listen to any other proposals from Sabena or the Belgian government, Sabena's majority shareholder.
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt was holding crisis talks with Sabena union leaders on Tuesday as the debt-laden airline's services disintegrated ahead of expected liquidation.
VIRGIN Express, the Belgian-based airline part-owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group, has pulled out of talks with Sabena, effectively dashing what had been seen as the last chance to prevent the ailing Belgian airline's collapse.
The discount airline had been interested in buying certain assets of the Belgian flag-bearer and its operations. Such action could safeguard more than 3,000 jobs. But, Virgin Express said: 'In the absence of an agreement with Sabena we now believe that it will be in the best interest of the travelling public for Virgin Express to pursue (an) independent plan. The plan presented to us by Sabena, in our view, could put the future of our staff at risk.'
Virgin Express, which had been expected to create a new airline with Sabena's short-haul subsidiary, Delta Air Transport, said it was still willing to listen to any other proposals from Sabena or the Belgian government, Sabena's majority shareholder.
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt was holding crisis talks with Sabena union leaders on Tuesday as the debt-laden airline's services disintegrated ahead of expected liquidation.