LOT likely to switch airline alliances in the wake of Swissair pull-out

According to media reports, chairman of the supervisory board of LOT Polish airlines, Jan Szczesny, has said that Swissair has informed the Treasury of its intention to sell its stake in the Polish national carrier. The Rzeczpospolita daily, which claims that Szczesny made the comment in an interview with Bloomberg TV, speculates that the move may result in LOT joining a new international air carrier alliance, with Oneworld emerging as the most likely choice. LOT representatives have already said they are holding talks with all potential partners. Company spokesman Leszek Chorzewski said that LOT would prefer a new investor to be a well-established airline rather than a financial institution. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4) P.J.