Anounced today:
British Airways is to buy French airline L’Avion at a cost of £54 million.
L’Avion is a privately owned airline that operates two Boeing 757 aircraft between Paris Orly and Newark airport. It was launched in January 2007 and its aircraft operate with a single class 90-seat business cabin. It has £26 million of cash in its business.
Following completion of the deal, expected this month, L’Avion will be integrated into OpenSkies, the airline’s new EU-US subsidiary airline.
OpenSkies launched services on June 19 with daily flights from Paris Orly to New York JFK that operate with a L’Avion codeshare. The combined airline will operate up to three daily flights between Paris Orly and New York JFK/Newark airports using three Boeing 757 aircraft.
British Airways’ chief executive, Willie Walsh, said: “L’Avion has many synergies with OpenSkies and buying it provides OpenSkies with a larger schedule and an established customer base in the Paris-New York market.”
Christophe Bejach, co-founder and chairman of L’Avion, said: “This transaction will strengthen our current base and enable the combined airline to grow faster and stronger.”
By: bring_it_on - 4th July 2008 at 14:03
After the re-structuring process, would they not look to merge it into Open Skies at all in order to increase the frequency of flights between Paris and New York, and possibly even use one of the aircraft to launch the Brussels route?
That is the logical step , and i believe that is what they are planning to do !!
By: Bmused55 - 4th July 2008 at 08:57
Bargain, two additional ETOPS 757s, crews and routes.
By: cloud_9 - 3rd July 2008 at 22:01
This is smart , airlines are bleeding money like crazy and this is probably the best time to buy if you have the money and BA definately does and with their size and managment i am sure they can restructure this buisness venture intoa profitable one .
After the re-structuring process, would they not look to merge it into Open Skies at all in order to increase the frequency of flights between Paris and New York, and possibly even use one of the aircraft to launch the Brussels route?
By: bring_it_on - 2nd July 2008 at 22:14
This is smart , airlines are bleeding money like crazy and this is probably the best time to buy if you have the money and BA definately does and with their size and managment i am sure they can restructure this buisness venture intoa profitable one .
By: Newforest - 2nd July 2008 at 21:28
It is surprising that this airline, L’Avion has been successfull in the business niche market when others like, Maxjet, Eos etc have failed!
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July 2, 2008 at 9:03 pm