Merger mania has hit the aviation world, not just here at home in the United States but abroad too. Qantas Airways is being looked at as a possible privatization of the company, with a AU$10 billion dollar deal. The US Airways bid here on the mainland is still up in the air. Rumors are swirling around a Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines hook up as they both get closer to exiting bankruptcy protection, but that’s just a rumor. Continental Airlines has said they would be open to a merger deal but would prefer it to be the instigator and not the merger target. They have ruled out a sideline seat with any merger. United Airlines might be another airline that if it doesn’t merge with someone will go private.
Now KLM-Air France are getting in on the action. They are beginning tentative talks on a tie-up with Alitalia, Italy’s struggling state airline. Chief Executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta said the discussions with Alitalia would focus on the Italian airline's financial situation, the merger synergies possible and the compatibility of the two carriers' strategies.
'Only if we have positive answers to these three points will we open merger talks with Alitalia,' he said.
Should be interesting to see what kind of other mergers are out there in the near future.
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