This was in the Aircraft and Aerospace magazine (Jan/Feb 2002):
Lufthansa chairman, Jurgen Weber, has forecast that only three European Long-Haul airlines will survive if European governments refrain from proping up national carriers; with British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa abosrbing others like Alitalia, KLM and Iberian.
Personally I feel that that is a very bald statment coming from someone of his stature! Wether it is ture or not, only goes to emphasise the seriousness of things in the Airline world, especially since that day! As I mentioned in the other post about BA, QANTAS is falling (spured on by the public’s lack of confidence in them) which would leave the only L-H in our region being SIA!
In dying for your emperor you will receive everlasting glory. Yeah right!!!
By: rdc1000 - 9th February 2002 at 16:59
RE: Only the Big Three
Such consolidation has been expected in Europe for a growing length of time, even before September 11th..which has just brought forward the fates of many airlines. At first this consolidation will not be through just mergers but strengthened alliances..and most people fully expect that KLM will join BA in oneWorld (for a start they have signed agreements covering flights to the middle east).
As for the Lufthansa Chairman making that statement, it isn’t really bold at all as the entire indusrty is thinking the same thing and saying the same thing..even publicly.
By: carl727 - 6th February 2002 at 13:22
RE: Only Three likely to survive in Europe?
I cant really believe that this new “Swiss” airline is going to start up and try tobe 4th biggest in Europe I think they said !! Sounds a recipe for disaster. it may have made sense to join forces with Austian to cover that region. For years OS just flew DC9 in the European and mid-east area only.
By: monster500 - 6th February 2002 at 01:51
RE: Only Three likely to survive in Europe?
dont know about sia being the only longhaul airline in AUstralia
you have Thai,Cathay,Malaysia,Jal,Korean,Emirates the list goes on so lets not forget them and Qantas is not going to fold anytime soon with new product launch
By: Rabie - 5th February 2002 at 17:45
RE: Only Three likely to survive in Europe?
nah they are all naff- easyjet, ryan air, go and buzz 😀 }> 😀 }> 😀 }> 😀
european indusrty consilidation has got to happen, as the ucurrent set is just so uneconomical.
rabie :9
By: Saab 2000 - 5th February 2002 at 17:17
RE: Only Three likely to survive in Europe?
In my opinion only around seven will actually be around in the future.Really its a case of to many airlines in europe.In the near future you will see more airlines collapsing,merging and being taken over.The horrble reality of even before september 11th is that certain carrier days were numered with overcapacity,recession fears and high fuel prices.Europe will be like the US-only six/seven major carriers rather than 30-40,its horrible to think of much loved carriers such as Iberia,Alitalia,SAS not exicisting in 10 or so years but it true that maybe the only survivors will be Lufthansa,Air France and Btritish Airways.
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February 5, 2002 at 4:58 pm