Virgin Atlantic likely to join global alliance

[Foreigner]

In a matter of months, according to Richard Branson:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/26/virgin-branson-airline-alliance?newsfeed=true

Star Alliance possibly, rival BA being member of OW.

 

[JohnK]

Interesting news.

Hopefully not too many "enhancements" to Flying Club.

 

[yohy?!]

Works for me nice to have a direct SYD option with Star to put my Gold card to good use

 

[Awesom Andy]

Having we been talking about this for I don't know how many years?

And if they join *A, I wonder how the Indian authorities would look at their planned increase presence there, given the debacle between *A and AI.

 

[moa999]

I thought Branson and SQ were trying to sell Virgin Atlantic.

 

[drron]

This article is saying more likely to be Skyteam-
Virgin Atlantic in Advanced Alliance Talks, Branson Say - Bloomberg

“I’d say it would be 60-40 in favor of SkyTeam” as the potential Virgin Atlantic partner, Robin Byde, a London-based analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald International, said in a phone interview. The U.K. carrier’s routes to the Caribbean, U.S. and Asia may “tip them in favor of the SkyTeam alliance more than Star,” the group led by United Airlines (UAL) and Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA), which already has a route network serving those markets.

 

[yohy?!]

This article is saying more likely to be Skyteam-
Virgin Atlantic in Advanced Alliance Talks, Branson Say - Bloomberg

Strange logic from the analyst...UA and LH fly there so VS is not needed....what so you have to go to Europe or US to get to these countries...

 

[Foreigner]

The one certainty is that Virgin Atlantic will not be joining OW:

http://upgrd.com/blogs/damian/source-virgin-atlantic-to-join-star-alliance.html

 

[Isochronous]

Well didn't Borghetti say that DJ would consider SkyTeam if it was interested in alliances too?

 

[JohnK]

I don't see an issue with strengthening Skyteam.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to choose from 3 very successful alliances?

 

[moa999]

Whilst SQ retains 50%, cannot see it being SkyTeam, with the BA competition can't see it being oneworld.
Not much left.

 

[Awesom Andy]

But since VS doesn't fly to SIN, I think SQ might also be happy to "double-dip" in terms of alliances.

 

[Foreigner]

With today's news about SQ buying into Virgin Australia and Virgin buying stake in Tiger, I'd think Virgin Atlantic would more likely join Star Alliance. Branson's Virgin Group has some 26% interest in VA.

Virgin does deals with Singapore, Tiger, Skywest

 

[drron]

Why does the SQ buy in mean VA will join A*.Many examples of an airline having a stake in another who is in a different alliance eg CX and Air China.
SQ has been known to want to unload it's stake in Virgin Atlantic with this article suggesting Delta might be interested-
Singapore Airlines to consider offers for 49pc stake in Virgin Atlantic - Telegraph

Then there was this story-
Delta and Air France-KLM interested in Virgin Atlantic bid | CAPA - Centre for Aviation

So Scary Team is by no means out of the picture.

 

[Noob]

According to the soon to depart Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway in a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Virgin Atlantic could be just three months away from sealing a Major tie-up:

He also confirmed the airline could be just three months away from sealing a major tie-up, with Star Alliance - home to Lufthansa and United Airlines - the most obvious choice

Steve Ridgway says Virgin Atlantic will continue to soar | Mail Online

 

[777]

Re: VS CEO says Star Alliance tie-up "could be just three months away"

According to the soon to depart Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway in a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Virgin Atlantic could be just three months away from sealing a tie-up with Star Alliance:

Steve Ridgway says Virgin Atlantic will continue to soar | Mail Online

Got excited for a second there... Then realised that the reference to Star Alliance doesn't actually come from Ridgeway.

 

[Noob]

Re: VS CEO says Star Alliance tie-up "could be just three months away"

Got excited for a second there... Then realised that the reference to Star Alliance doesn't actually come from Ridgeway.

Oh figured it out lol Sorry! That was constructed a bit confusingly.