British Airways commercial director Martin George has hinted the flag carrier is on the merger trail.
George said BA saw “opportunities in the area of cross-border mergers” but would not give specifics.
He added: “The Air France/KLM merger will pave the way for further consolidation.”
Industry analysts have speculated Spanish carrier Iberia is a likely European partner for BA.
George’s comments follow chairman Martin Broughton’s admission he wants future chief executive Willie Walsh – who takes over from Sir Rod Eddington in September – to focus on operations early on. If industry consolidation looks likely, Broughton will ask director of investments and joint ventures Roger Maynard to get involved.
Meanwhile, George avoided questioning on BA’s stance on the proposed £1 consumer protection levy. When challenged by Travel Weekly to explain BA’s anti-levy position, in light of the airline’s recent £16 return long-haul fuel surcharge increase, George said the fees are not comparable, “because we intend to reduce the fuel surcharge once the oil price levels go back to some sense of normality”.
He added: “We think some fees are acceptable, and some are not and this [proposed consumer levy] is not one of the
acceptable ones.”