AVIATION:International Airlines Group (IAG) is considering the case for buying a minority stake in American Airlines to expand its commercial partnership and ensure the US carrier remains part of Oneworld, the global airline alliance.
Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, told the Financial Times that buying a small stake in American could help cement the US carrier’s membership in Oneworld, the alliance to which IAG also belongs. He also voiced strong support for a merger between American, the third largest US carrier by revenue, and US Airways, the fifth largest.
The idea of IAG investing in American “is something we are going to look at”, he said.
“If we can make the case that there is additional strategic value to be achieved, then it is certainly something we are prepared to do.”
