DO YOU SHARE BA’S EVIDENT ENTHUSIASM FOR A TIE-UP WITH IBERIA?
DOUGLAS MCNEILL ASTAIRE SECURITIES
“It’s very hard to read the smoke signals which are coming from these talks, which seem to be changing colour every five minutes. Discussions have been going on for over a year, now, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If they are still talking, there must be a deal to be done. Time will tell. It would be foolish to predict deadlines, though.”
TONY SHEPARD CHARLES STANLEY
“Management changes at Iberia, the industry slump, and BA’s pension deficit have all slowed down these talks.
A deal between the two is likely, but we will need to see a significant recovery in the economy, and a string of numbers to prove that, before any announcement is made. Both parties seem positive.”
JUSTIN URQUHART-STEWART 7IM
“Walsh spends more time talking about his potential tie-up with Iberia than most people go on holiday in the Costa Brava. I think now is the time for the merger to happen before the upturn in the industry. Sentiment changes on a sixpence. Both airlines are desperate and want the partnership to happen.”