IAG (International Airlines Group), owner of British Airways, is considering selling its 20% stake in Air Europa.
The information was published this Thursday (27), by the Reuters agency. The decision will depend on the movements of Globalia, owner of the Spanish airline, which is negotiating the sale of a stake in the company with Air -KLM and Lufthansa.
IAG CEO Luis Gallego said the company could choose to keep or sell its stake in Air Europa. “That’s something we will decide when (Globalia) makes a decision about what to do with the company (Air Europa). We can stay or we can go.”
IAG withdrew its acquisition of Air Europa last year after failing to meet the demands of European Union competition regulators, but remains interested in acquiring a stake in TAP Air Portugal, with the aim of consolidating a dual hub model in the Iberian Peninsula, with strategic operations in Madrid and Lisbon.
TAP’s privatization process could be delayed due to the political climate in Portugal. “If there is continuity with the current government, I think the process will be delayed by maybe two, three months,” Gallego said. “If there is a new government, I think we will have an even greater delay.”
IAG conditions its interest in TAP on the possibility of integrating the airline into its group.
