UAE carrier rebuffs reports of Lufthansa-Etihad merger talks

2017 may witness one of the biggest merger in airlines sector. The two global airlines that once have fought over Air Berlin codesharing rights and subsidy allegations, are possible looking for options of merger, a Italian newspaper reported.   

According to an Italian newspaper II Messaggero report, Deutsche Lufthansa and UAE's Etihad are looking at options to merge. However, according to Reuters, sources in Etihad have denied the claims of a possible merger between the two.   

According to reports, Frankfurt-listed Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline by revenue, said the report was “speculation” and declined further comment. the report further adds, that managers from both companies have for weeks are analysing the options of Etihad taking 30-40 per cent stake in Lufthansa through capital increase.

The newspaper report claimed that at the second stage. the two companies would examine a full-blown merger.

The relationship between both the global carriers has always been on rollercoster ride. the airlines have fought over Air Berlin in codeshare rights and subsidy allegations. Later, the two became business partner, completing a codeshare and wet-lease agreement, ironically with airberlin aircraft at the center of the deal.