7 SEP: British Airways is making headlines today with a disclosure by chief executive Willie Walsh of long-term plans to expand the new International Airlines Group (IAG) being created by its merger with Spanish carrier Iberia.
That deal is due to be finalised by the end of the year.
But comments by Mr Walsh in India suggest it’s just the beginning of a much bigger tie-up.
Talking to reporters during the announcement of a code-share deal with Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines, he said IAG would be very interested in investing in the Indian market, and possibly in South America and even Africa.
"With Iberia, we have had a number of meetings where we have looked at airlines around the world and identified those that would be attractive to us in joining IAG," he said.
"We started with a list of about 40 airlines. We have narrowed it down to about 12."
But he warned that nothing is imminent.
"This is just to give us a focus. We have not had any discussions with any airlines. There is nothing going on at the moment."
