German airline Lufthansa has confirmed it is interested in buying Spanish national carrier Iberia, although not at current price estimates.
A spokesman for Germany’s biggest airline said Iberia was “of strategic importance to Lufthansa in principle”, however, Lufthansa bosses have stated it is too expensive.
Iberia has already received a £2.3 billion takeover approach from Texas Pacific Group, joint owners of Sabre.
A deal would create one of Europe’s leading airlines carrying 70 million passengers a year.
British Airways has also been linked to a purchase of the Spanish airline. BA owns 10% of Iberia and has first refusal to buy another 32%.