BREAKING: Lufthansa in merger talks with Turkish Airlines?

[sn26567]

Bloomberg transport reporter Alex Webb claims Lufthansa is in merger talks with Turkish Airlines, citing Turkish media reports. Lufthansa spokesman Walther declines to confirm or deny.

Anyone with further news on such a hot item?

For the fun, they share already a similar logo of a flying bird

[sn26567]

Just found an article:

http://skift.com/2012/11/03/lufthansa-a ... ns-merger/

... and the original article of Bloomberg's Alex Webb:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-1 ... lks-report

As I see it, if the talks go through, they will result in an enhanced cooperation agreement rather than in a complete merger. The company culture is too different...

[RoMax]

Funny thing is that Merkel tries to get TK and LH together, while she has not a single word to say when it comes to LH...
Of course LH is in constant talks with TK, TK is the most powerfull weapon against the Middle-East carriers, but in the same time they are two big competitors in the same alliance trying to sneak away as much pax as possible from eachother.

I think you can compare this more with the Etihad/AF-KL/Air Berlin coorperation. But a full merger? No way, that's not going to happen. Maybe LH will take some shares in TK and/or TK taking some shares in LH, but that's never going to exceed 49% on each side.

[sn26567]

So, it will only be a deepening of ties, not a full merger. Exactly as I expected: the difference of culture is too important. And THY is expanding much faster than LH!

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-1 ... -look-east

But if THY wants to increase cooperation with other Star Alliance partners and expand codesharing with LH, why don't they also initiate a codesharing agreement with Brussels Airlines?

[actarus]

I found ca air journal c is a good or bad news for brussels airlines
Marriage between Lufthansa and Turkish, it becomes clear
PUBLISHED December 3, 2012 at 11:30 RICCI BY JOEL IN NEWS, PERSPECTIVE - 1 COMMENT
The presidents of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines have confirmed that discussions were underway to further cooperation between the two companies, without the form it may take has been specified. Lufthansa response to recent partnerships of its direct competitors such as Air France.

Christoph Franz, CEO of Lufthansa confirmed to Air Transport World that discussions were underway with Turkish Airlines, a partner in the Star Alliance, "to see if there were no other opportunities to deepen their partnership" without specifying more tracks before considered. According to analysts, they may initially form a joint venture to how they are now operating in 50/50 charter airline Sun Express, but this time in maintenance or catering before consider later an exchange of shares, Turkish and European laws preventing a full merger. They could also expand their codeshare agreements in Asia and share their profits, like that already with Lufthansa United Airlines on transatlantic routes. Recall that the Turkish government has already appealed last year to a banking consortium to draft a possible privatization of the national airline.

Lufthansa, the only major European failing to establish a partnership with a company in the Gulf, was taken aback by its main competitors: alliance Emirates - Qantas, Qatar Airways Oneworld which integrates part including IAG (British Airways and Iberia ) or the code-share agreement between Air France / KLM and Etihad and Air Berlin. More isolated than ever, it is therefore looking to turn a reconciliation that can accelerate its growth. Turkish Airlines seems the best option at the moment, with 205 destinations in 90 countries (a world record), including a strong presence in areas where the German company has not yet fully implemented as the Middle East, Asia South-East or the lands bordering the Mediterranean. Turkish Airlines finally experiencing double-digit growth with a turnover grew by 24% over the past five years - compared to 9.1% of Lufthansa and small 2% Air France-KLM-doubled to an operating margin twice that of Lufthansa.

[b-west]

I just hope they won't change Miles & Smiles for Miles & More...