Unions representing Spanish airline Iberia’s cabin crews have announced a further eight days of strikes unless a pay agreement can be reached. The dates for the proposed strikes are 30 November to 2 December, and 14 December to 18 December.
The airline has already been forced to ground hundreds of flights this week due to strike action.
Most of the affected flights have been short and medium-haul.
source: BBC
Iberia’s plans for a new airline, presented in the midst of merger talks with British Airways, shows the company bracing for a tough future, with or without a partner, analysts said on Friday.
The announcement of the new network airline within its 2012 strategic plan surprised the market, considering its merger plans with BA, which has hinted at a tie-up before the end of the year.
But regardless of a merger, Iberia warned of the need for innovative measures to ensure its viability as the industry weathers the worst crisis in a decade.
source: Reuters
The airlines, along with Iberia, a prospective partner of British Airways, said on Thursday that they planned to apply for antitrust approval from the Transportation Department to form a marketing alliance to link their global flight networks.
American and British Airways tried twice before to bring about such an arrangement, only to face stiff requirements from regulators. But the aviation landscape has changed significantly since they first proposed the deal in 1996. Then, flights between the United States and Heathrow Airport near London were strictly controlled, and deals between big airlines were routinely viewed as anticompetitive.
source: New York Times
The airlines, along with Iberia, a prospective partner of British Airways, said on Thursday that they planned to apply for antitrust approval from the Transportation Department to form a marketing alliance to link their global flight networks.
American and British Airways tried twice before to bring about such an arrangement, only to face stiff requirements from regulators. But the aviation landscape has changed significantly since they first proposed the deal in 1996. Then, flights between the United States and Heathrow Airport near London were strictly controlled, and deals between big airlines were routinely viewed as anticompetitive.
source: New York Times
If the proposed merger between British Airways and Iberia is given the go-ahead, it will create the world’s third largest revenue carrier and give the two carriers a combined 13.5% share of the transatlantic market based on capacity.
The oneworld alliance partners announced on 29 July that they are in talks with a view to carrying out an all-share merger, which would see both airlines retaining their brands as part of a combined group.
source: flightglobal.com
Iberia and Meridiana have signed a code-sharing agreement for flights within Italy, enabling Iberia to offer flights to Cagliari, Catania, Olbia as well as to another eight Italian destinations. Under the new scheme, Iberia passengers can book to Cagliari and Olbia via Roma and to Catania via Bologna.
source: traveldailynews.com
British Airways has confirmed it is continuing to consider a potential bid for Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana.
A BA spokesman said the UK flag carrier was keeping the possibility of a bid for Iberia ”under review” following a report in which BA chief executive Willie Walsh said he had not ruled out an approach for the Spanish flag carrier.
BA is particularly interested in Iberia because a tie-up would give it greater access to South America, a region to which it only runs 10 flights a week from Heathrow.
source: Forbes
Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA said, if its bid for SAS’s Spanair is successful, it will use the low-cost flyer to increase domestic and long haul routes, especially at the Barcelona El Prat airport.
Speaking during a presentation on full-year results, Iberia chairman Fernando Conte said a Spanair tie-up would also increase cost cutting synergies and reinforce more direct routes with hubs.
source: Forbes
Spanish low-cost airline Clickair has scrapped plans to introduce a regular Sofia-Barcelona flight as part of its cost-cutting push, daily El Pais reported on February 4.
Clickair, partially owned by Spanish national flag carrier Iberia, has dropped a total of eight routes to trim down its flight schedule, choosing to concentrate on its more profitable flights.
source: Sofia Echo
Iberia, Spain’s flagship airline, plans to bid for Spanair, an ailing unit of Scandinavia’s SAS AB, the Spanish carrier said in a statement Thursday.
Iberia said in a regulatory filing that it planed to launch the bid in partnership with local Spanish transport company Gestair. Market analysts estimated Spanair’s worth could be around €800 million (US$1.17 billion).
If successful, a takeover of the country’s second-largest carrier would give Iberia a tighter grip on domestic flights, currently under siege from local and international low-cost airlines.
source: International Herald Tribune
