Originally posted by slinky09
So while unlikely, there was always a chance for VS before or after or to have struck a deal with LH - mind you, at this price, to gain a reported 800m worth of slots, LH would have been mad to refuse.
VS offers to merge with LH !
Virgin Atlantic has proposed combining its operations with Lufthansa to create a European super-carrier following the German national airline's 400 million (318 million) acquisition of Britain's bmi.
Lufthansa now owns 80 per cent of bmi, the former British Midland, and is expected to make a bid for the remaining 20 per cent, which is owned by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). SAS has put both the stake and itself up for sale.
Virgin Atlantic, the airline owned by Sir Richard Branson, today responded to the purchase of bmi by offering to combine its own operations with Lufthansa's in a partnership that would create Europe's dominant airline.
A tie-up with Virgin would allow the German carrier to use the better-known Virgin brand to expand internationally and at Heathrow in particular.
lifted from A'net..looking for a link now
Got it LINK