As per TravelMole.com
Etihad eyes Virgin Atlantic
Middle Eastern airline Etihad has made it known it is interested in acquiring a large chunk of Virgin Atlantic, it was revealed this weekend.
Sir Richard Branson appointed Deutsche Bank last year to carry out a strategic review of his airline’s future and consider alliances with other airlines.
And Etihad, which is backed by the Abu Dhabi royal family, has revealed that it has approached the bank via a letter from its chief executive James Hogan.
Branson has suggested that he may wish to sell his 51% stake in Virgin Atlantic should the right bidder come along.
Neither Etihad nor Virgin Atlantic would comment on the news, the former saying only that it regularly spoke with other airlines about future business opportunities.
by Dinah Hatch
Source: http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1146079.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=_rnms~s~T_
Could be interesting…
If EY was to buyout VS, I assume they would look to keep the “Virgin” brand going, right?
Seriously seems as though SRB is considering all his options…just when I was hoping that he might consider getting VS to join Star Alliance and then ask to buy BD from LH and turn it into a Virgin domestic airline; would certainly help them to keep the pressure up on BA @ LHR as they would be able to accept even more “transit” passengers that choose to fly down from ABZ/BHD/EDI/GLA/MAN?!
By: cloud_9 - 22nd February 2011 at 23:08
AF-KL & DL may bid for VS as well…
Seems as though the interest in VS is hotting up as I’ve read two articles in the last few days, both stating that Air France-KLM may look to combine with Delta in order to produce a bid to compete with Etihad’s interest in the carrier…which, if successful, might result in them [Virgin] joining the SkyTeam Alliance?
Personally, I’ve always thought that it would be better suited to join the Star Alliance, which would figure given that Singapore Airlines is already a member of Star and owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic…or perhaps, if the Etihad bid was successful, they could look to form a new alliance group which will help VS to compete more with the likes of BA and its IAG partners.
Either way though, it looks distinctly possible that VS will not remain as an independant carrier; anyone else have an opinion as to what they think might (or hope!) will happen.
By: nJayM - 25th January 2011 at 13:23
Ahem nearly Emu burgers or a nearly badly damaged aircraft
You’ll love this then… had me laughing for ages: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=010_1295904756
Hi Bmused55
Ahem nearly committed to Emu burgers for a long time or a nearly badly damaged aircraft.:D
My uncle (dad’s first cousin) a UK qualified doctor flew himself from surgery to surgery out in remote parts of Oz.
I must ask him how many similar near misses he had.
He must have some good tales of kangaroos, ostriches and emus to tell, leaving aside any ‘Crocodile Dundee’ tales.;)
Thks for the vid.
By: Bmused55 - 25th January 2011 at 13:04
Hi Bmused55
No worries (Aussie coming out there, heaven forbid, what’s happening to my Queen’s English they taught me, the SNPs got it I guess).. I knew you were.:D
You’ll love this then… had me laughing for ages: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=010_1295904756
By: nJayM - 25th January 2011 at 12:44
Yeah pull all my legs – no retract that not the 3rd one….
I think you meant to say SQ, as in Singapore Airlines, not South African Airways…;)
Hi Cloud9
Yeah pull all my legs – no retract that not the 3rd one – too painful:D
Clarifier inserted in to my previous post.;)
Jay
By: cloud_9 - 25th January 2011 at 12:04
The Virgin Atlantic routes are the attraction – Branson being the only one holding the decision for the majority stake 51% or is Etihad interested in the SA stake (minority =<49%)?
I think you meant to say SQ, as in Singapore Airlines, not South African Airways…;)
By: nJayM - 25th January 2011 at 10:43
No worries – I knew you were ….
he he, I was just kidding you on. We all know what you meant. 😉
Hi Bmused55
No worries (Aussie coming out there, heaven forbid, what’s happening to my Queen’s English they taught me, the SNPs got it I guess).. I knew you were.:D
By: nJayM - 25th January 2011 at 10:40
They may consider having ‘Eunuchs’ as stewards !!!!
……..who wouldn’t want to fly on Virgins United…….?
Hi ChrisGlobe
They may consider having ‘Eunuchs’ as stewards – then everything will be boringly ship shape and ‘bristol’ fashion.:rolleyes:
By: Bmused55 - 25th January 2011 at 10:38
he he, I was just kidding you on. We all know what you meant. 😉
By: nJayM - 25th January 2011 at 10:35
Clarifier put in to my post
What do V Australia (VA) have to do with this? 😉
Hi Bmused55
Clarifier put in to my post.;)
Jay
By: ChrisGlobe - 25th January 2011 at 09:48
Don’t forget your coat
Coat was duly picked up on the way out! 🙂
By: Bmused55 - 25th January 2011 at 09:29
What do V Australia (VA) have to do with this? 😉
By: nJayM - 25th January 2011 at 09:01
GA – Yes of course that was why the tongue in cheek comment about my blinking
Hi GA
Yes of course that was the reason for the tongue in cheek comment about my blinking. 😀
As in that time AirAsia stopped showing interest and Etihad replaced them as interested parties in V. Atlantic.;)
By: Grey Area - 25th January 2011 at 06:17
Did I blink and miss something – AirAsia back to learning to fly then I guess rather than making a bid for VA?
You do know that Air Asia and Etihad are different airlines, don’t you?
By: nJayM - 24th January 2011 at 22:02
Did I blink and miss something – AirAsia back to learning to fly then I guess!!
Did I blink and miss something – AirAsia back to learning to fly then I guess rather than making a bid for VA?
After the recent thread showing the mess made of a slogan (Anyone Can Fly) carrying AirAsia aircraft dug deep in the runway/taxiway peripheries; maybe they had sensible second thoughts.:D
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=106082
Good thing too that they came down to earth !!!:rolleyes:
The Virgin Atlantic routes are the attraction – Branson being the only one holding the decision for the majority stake 51% or is Etihad interested in the Singapore Airlines stake (minority =<49%)?
By: Bmused55 - 24th January 2011 at 14:52
Don’t forget your coat
By: ChrisGlobe - 24th January 2011 at 13:06
On the other hand, what if they combine the brands. I mean, who wouldn’t want to fly on Virgins United? :p
Yeah, ok, I’ll shut the door on the way out…
By: KabirT - 24th January 2011 at 12:37
If this is true, it would be sad because I am pretty certain EY would close VS as a brand.
By: Bmused55 - 24th January 2011 at 12:21
If EY was to buyout VS, I assume they would look to keep the “Virgin” brand going, right?
That would be logical, but not guaranteed.
Look at TWA. Bought by AA with the understanding that TWA would remain TWA. But 4 years later, TWA was no more.
Etihad could well buy VS, close it down and user their slots at LHR to establish a base.
It depends on what Etihad management want, money or expansion. I suspect the latter.
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January 24, 2011 at 11:56 am