Virgin Atlantic shows interest in BMI

BMI could be picked up by Virgin Atlantic as the former's owner Lufthansa considers its options.

By Southall Travel -Tuesday, September 13, 2011 09:55 AM

Leading airline Virgin Atlantic has shown an interest in British Midland International (BMI), after Lufthansa ramped up its efforts to offload the carrier.

A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic told the Wall Street Journal that the company had a "close interest in a combination with BMI".

Emirates, another airline expected to show interest in the British carrier has ruled itself out of a takeover.

The firm said: "[Emirates] is focused on its own growth, and has no plans to acquire BMI or any other airline."

Other airlines including Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM were expected to consider an acquisition of the budget carrier.

It is expected that a tie-up between BMI and Virgin Atlantic would help the latter better service its long-haul trips - including flights to Australia.

Lufthansa has hired investment bank Morgan Stanley to assess its options and has already begun a shake-up of BMI's structure, appointing a new chairman, Vagn Ove Sorensen.

Mr Sorensen is moving from Lufthansa's Austrian Airlines.

Written by Erin Marshall ADNFCR-1809-ID-800726861-ADNFCR

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