Notizia in inglese:
LTU German Airlines and Condor confirmed they are discussing a possible tie-up six months after LTU MD Juergen Marbach said the two might forge a partnership in the wake of Air Berlin's acquisition of dba. "We are in concrete talks. Currently we are discussing what cost savings could be achieved," LTU majority owner Hans Rudolf Woehrl told the dpa news service. He said he believes a merger could achieve €70 million ($92.5 million) in savings but that progress would be slow, in large part because Condor is involved in other partnerships and is majority owned by KarstadtQuelle. Lufthansa holds 25% of Condor
Currently, LTU is working to reposition itself through an extension of its long-haul network and an effort to attract more business travelers. It will add an A330-200 this month and by the next winter schedule will launch 14-times-weekly flights to Bangkok, thrice-weekly service to Los Angeles and twice-weekly flights to Las Vegas from either Munich or Dusseldorf. It is expecting positive results in 2007 after more than a decade in the red. Marbach said he is anticipating a 5% increase in revenue this year. LTU flew 5.75 million passengers last year with an 82.1% load factor. Atwonline