KLM and British Airways back in merger talk
( 2001-06-10 11:26) (7)
British Airways and Dutch carrier KLM have resumed talks on a merger that would create the world's third largest airline, news reports in London said on Sunday.
Rod Erdington, BA's chief executive, has resumed contacts in the past few weeks with KLM chairman Leo van Wijk, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.
Talks between the two companies about merging broke down in September last year after months of negotiations.
"We are in a preliminary discussion phase," the newspaper quoted a senior source at the British firm as saying.
"We still want to do the deal. Failure last time was not attributable to either party and relations are still very good."
"They (KLM) are the logical partners for us whenever consolidation is permitted within Europe. The chief executives have started to chat again."
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