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British Airways has today denied that there is any truth in rumours it was about to purchase a stake in India’s Kingfisher Airlines.

India is British Airways’ second largest international market, outside of North America and it is predicting strong growth, with plans to increase routes into the region.

However, British Airways have denied that any plans for expansion will include a stake in Kingfisher. Other airlines also being mentioned as possible new stakeholders in the airline are Singapore Airlines and Virgin.

British Airways are already busy with several deals on the table. They have 2 planned mergers on the table, with Iberia of Spain and Quantas of Australia. They are also planning a commercial joint venture with American Airlines, which has brought about fierce opposition from the likes of Virgin’s “No Way BA / AA” campaign.

American Airlines has gone to a considerable length to show it supports Breast Cancer Awareness – it has decorated one of its Boeing 777 aircraft with the globally recognised pink ribbon.

The ribbon runs the entire length of the aircraft, which recently operated a flight into London Heathrow.

The carrier has teamed up with “Susan K Gorman for the Cure”, the world’s largest breast cancer organisation.

7 other American Airlines aircraft bear the Pink Ribbon motif, but the 777 is the only one to be decorated down the entire length of the plane.

Air New Zealand has revealed plans to save what it expects to be more than $5.15 million in fuel and 16,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by fitting performance enhancing winglets.
The winglets are to be added to ANZ’s fleet of Boeing 767-300 aircraft, which operate flights to destinations such as Australia, the Pacific Islands and Honolulu.
The work is expected to be complete by the end of 2009.
ANZ have said that fitting the winglets was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Although initially as significant investment, the winglets will achieve improved performance and commercial benefits from aircraft operating on long haul routes whilst being kinder to the environment.
The airline is also considering winglets for its Boeing 777 aircraft, as they become available.

It has been revealed today (2/12/08) that British Airways plc is exploring a potential merger with Australian carrier Quantas Airways.

A statement from BA plc has revealed that they are considering a dual-listed company structure with the Australian carrier. Talks with regards to a similar merger with Spanish airline Iberia are also continuing.

A dual-listed company refers to a structure wherein both companies continue to exist with separate bodies of shareholders, but they agree to share all the risks and rewards of the ownership of all their operating businesses in a fixed proportion.

British Airways is the UK’s largest international scheduled airline, flying to over 550 destinations globally.

Budget airline Ryanair has been affected by strike action at Boeing. The strike in the US has delayed delivery of the next generation 737-800 aircraft and as a result Ryanair have been forced to delay opening new bases at Edinburgh, Scotland and Reus, Spain.

The carrier was expecting to base two new 737 aircraft at Edinburgh and Reus.

The Irish budget carrier has also deferred its planned expansion at Bergamo, Italy where it was due to introduce its seventh aircraft from October ’08.