jakedonson wrote:Interesting. Not something I saw coming I must admit.
True, but then again, I never saw the sale to Air France/KLM coming originally.
Same, though nor did I see it coming with Flybe until VS were first linked with buying them.
If true, I wonder how this will impact on the codeshare agreements VS have now entered to with Air France and KLM on each other's flights? I can't see that changing as airlines enter codeshare agreements all the time with one another and not necessarily get into bed with them with ownership stakes - VS have been doing that with other airlines for years - plus the codesharing has mutual benefits for all three airlines along with DL, particularly AF/KLM frequent fliers who are in FlyingBlue and can now fly direct to certain destinations from the UK instead of backtracking via CDG or AMS.
La Tribune is a French financial newspaper, so you would think this has some credibility compared to certain tabloid newspapers if they published something like this first. I personally think this story has some legs as their new CEO Ben Smith has overseen changes at AF/KLM since taking up the role last year, including shutting down the subsidiary airline Joon, expediting withdrawal plans of A380's from Air France's fleet and announcing plans to swap KLM's A350 order with Air France's 787 order as part of a fleet rationalisation strategy. Swinging the axe or making sensible decisions to cut losses? You decide!
All this of course depends if the deal has got beyond the point of no return. If it's cleared regulatory approval, it seems as though it's now a formality unless somebody pulls out at the last minute and all parties are in agreement. They would need to move quickly though.
As for SRB, there's always the risk that once he's sold something he may never get it back. He didn't want to sell Virgin Records in the first place for instance, so I wonder if that's playing on his mind a bit and has business rationale behind it this time besides emotion?
