British Airway says no problems with bid for LOT Polish Airlines
"It does not preclude us from anything that we felt we might have an interest in doing," said Michael Blunt, a spokesman for British Airways.
A lack of approval from U.S. authorities would affect only one of BA's alliances, which was formed between it and American in 1996, and mainly concerns scheduling and profit sharing on trans-Atlantic flights.
But British Airways and American would continue to cooperate in the One World alliance, which was formed in September 1998 and includes airlines from around the world, including Qantas from Australia and LanChile. The second alliance is more passenger orientated, doing things such as linking frequent flyer programs.
Being part of a global alliance is a requirement for potential investors in LOT's privatization. The government has now shortlisted BA, Germany's Lufthansa, which is part of the Star Alliance, and Switzerland's Swissair, part of the Qualiflyer Group, in a tender for up to 38% of the national carrier.
Officials with other airlines were divided on whether there would be problems relating to the LOT tender if the alliance between American and BA does not go through.
"BA still has a huge intercontinental network," said Florian Stockli, a member of Swissair's press department.
He added that the government would have to decide whether approval problems from U.S. authorities would be a hindrance in BA's plans.
"They have to measure the advantages and disadvantages," Stockli said.
But for now, Stockli does not see this being grounds for a lawsuit or any sort of legal protest from other bidders.
"When you are in talks like this … you can't say something against the behavior of another competitor," he said.
Ireneusz Truszkowski, finance and administration manager for Lufthansa in Poland, said he believes that rejection by U.S. authorities could lead to problems for the British carrier in Poland.
"For me this is too optimistic to say that approval will not be a problem," Truszkowski said.
If the AA/BA alliance falls apart, then the One World alliance could also fall apart, meaning BA would not be part of an alliance. Rather it would have individual cooperation agreements with airlines.
"To be a bilateral partner is not enough," Truszkowski said.
A lack of approval from U.S. authorities would affect only one of BA's alliances, which was formed between it and American in 1996, and mainly concerns scheduling and profit sharing on trans-Atlantic flights.
But British Airways and American would continue to cooperate in the One World alliance, which was formed in September 1998 and includes airlines from around the world, including Qantas from Australia and LanChile. The second alliance is more passenger orientated, doing things such as linking frequent flyer programs.
Being part of a global alliance is a requirement for potential investors in LOT's privatization. The government has now shortlisted BA, Germany's Lufthansa, which is part of the Star Alliance, and Switzerland's Swissair, part of the Qualiflyer Group, in a tender for up to 38% of the national carrier.
Officials with other airlines were divided on whether there would be problems relating to the LOT tender if the alliance between American and BA does not go through.
"BA still has a huge intercontinental network," said Florian Stockli, a member of Swissair's press department.
He added that the government would have to decide whether approval problems from U.S. authorities would be a hindrance in BA's plans.
"They have to measure the advantages and disadvantages," Stockli said.
But for now, Stockli does not see this being grounds for a lawsuit or any sort of legal protest from other bidders.
"When you are in talks like this … you can't say something against the behavior of another competitor," he said.
Ireneusz Truszkowski, finance and administration manager for Lufthansa in Poland, said he believes that rejection by U.S. authorities could lead to problems for the British carrier in Poland.
"For me this is too optimistic to say that approval will not be a problem," Truszkowski said.
If the AA/BA alliance falls apart, then the One World alliance could also fall apart, meaning BA would not be part of an alliance. Rather it would have individual cooperation agreements with airlines.
"To be a bilateral partner is not enough," Truszkowski said.
