[Anonymous]

[LeTigre]

Dear All,

I am certain that it cannot have escaped your notice that recent events in the UK airline industry are all adding up to a fast moving period that is sure to have far-reaching effects for the entire industry in future.

The events I refer to are the following:
BA acquiring 6 new slots from BMI (Lufthansa, I believe, likely Italia)
BA starting a new customer service drive and advertising campaign in addition to large capital expenditure on likely improvements to customer service (£1billion/year)
BMI being sold by Lufthansa either as a whole or by asset stripping
Virgin on the verge of joining an alliance (probably Star)
Virgin finding the results of a study to merge/be sold fruitless
IAG proceeding with its shopping list of airlines

In light of these events, what do forum members consider to be the short/long term effects of these almost simultaneous changes in the industry?

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Hengli

[LuganoPirate]

I’m not so sure it’s exciting, I think it’s all being done for business survival. I’m not even sure it will improve things service wise for us passengers.

Longer term it will just reduce choice and probably increase fares. I’m not that enthusiastic.

[LeTigre]

Consolidation does indeed seem to be the general theme…

[Author]

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