Lufthansa appears interested in purchasing Brussels Airlines

As yet another example of the unprecedented consolidation taking place in the commercial aviation industry, German flag carrier Lufthansa is reportedly interested in purchasing its Belgian rival, Brussels Airlines. Brussels Airlines is the successor to SN Brussels and the long defunct Belgian legacy carrier Sabena. The company currently operates a low-cost business strategy on all short-haul European routes. The firm also maintains a strong presence in Africa.

According to a Bloomberg report, Lufthansa is seriously considering the possibility of purchasing a 45 percent stake in Brussels Airlines, for a total of $96 million. More importantly, Lufthansa may seek to buy the remaining 55 percent of shares after two years of the current agreement. Lufthansa may be encouraged to go ahead with this purchase, considering the fact that it already has a very good track record in this department. Only last year, Lufthansa bought up Swiss International Air Lines, turning it into a subsidiary of the German flag carrier. This merger turned out very well for Europe’s second largest airline, with Swiss contributing to a positive financial picture for Lufthansa. As we reported earlier, Germany’s national airline has already submitted a bid for Austrian Airlines, which is currently undergoing privatization.

Thank you to Bloomberg News for the initial report.

www.brusselsairlines.com